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President Bush on Tuesday demanded swift action from Congress on a war supplemental bill he can support, challenging Democrats even as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said a veto would delay money for U.S. troops and demonstrate the president's refusal to work with Congress.

Bush, speaking at a Rose Garden news conference, said failure to pass an acceptable bill by mid-May could result in extended tours for frontline soldiers.

"The bottom line is this: Congress's failure to fund our troops on the front lines will mean that some of our military families could wait longer for their loved ones to return from the front lines, and others could see their loved ones headed back to the war sooner than they need to," Bush said.

The president has threatened to veto the supplemental if it sets deadlines for troop withdrawals and includes funding for unrelated issues. Bush acknowledged, though, that Congress was "exercising its legitimate authority," saying "I just disagree with their decisions."

The Democrats, though, sought to put the onus to Bush. "Democrats will send President Bush a bill that gives our troops the resources they need and a strategy in Iraq worthy of their sacrifices," Reid said in a statement.

Hoyer said, "It is increasingly clear that, when it comes to the war in Iraq, President Bush is out of touch with the views of the American people, who are demanding a charge in direction and a policy that is designed to succeed."

It is not clear when Bush will receive the supplemental. A House-Senate compromise must be worked out after the House returns from recess April 16. Republican leaders continued to say they can sustain a Bush veto, with 154 House Republicans signing a letter to Bush last week making the pledge.

"Our letter makes it clear that Democrats will have a serious decision to make when they return from their break: Fully-fund American troops without strings and unrelated spending attached, or continue a futile political exercise at the troops' expense," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said after Bush's speech.

On other issues, Bush said he will seek a united front to oppose the Democratic budget. "We'll work together, most importantly, on budget, to make sure this budget gets balanced without raising taxes," Bush said.

COMMENTS

• Tom, How do we know when the job is done? Take Bush's word for it? If that were the case, the mission was accomplished a couple of years ago. Its has never been explained. Bushbots are always screaming about defeat but Bush's policies have made that pretty much inevitable. GovExec.com reader Posted April 16, 2007 6:49 AM
• tom I do not believe in the time line in the bill - I believe the President was responsible to tell us the truth in the beginning when he lied about everything. The troops should have been withdrawn at least two years ago probably four. I think the time line is a total waste and he should begin the pull out now and not increase the force. We now keep hearing the bull about the improvement of the Iraq participation in this mess. We should get out as fast as we can move the troops and we should stop sending anyone over there! It is still the President's problem because the Congress has given him a bill that provides the money but does not demand the immediate pull out of the troops. If his plan for the surge was any good the time line should be no problem for him. However, he lied again and we only will be deeper in the mess by the end of the time line in the current bill. We already lost! What? Posted April 11, 2007 6:57 AM
• The Bill requires a timeline for the troops to return which will ensure defeat! I know that is what you and the democrats want but they can't leave until the job is done! tom Posted April 6, 2007 10:32 AM