House passes bill to boost war funding in two stages
Measure would meet needs through July, but the release of further money would depend on a second vote.
The House approved legislation Thursday to fund Iraq military operations through July, but require a vote that month to release the remaining installment of funds to last through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
The vote was 221-205 on a measure President Bush threatened to veto earlier in the day. That means Democrats will likely have to compromise to get a bill to his desk by Memorial Day.
But Democrats are clearly tiring of Bush's veto threats and argued they have compromised enough already. "[Bush] has grown accustomed to a free hand on Iraq that he had before Jan. 4. Those days are over," Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said on the floor.
In a concession to anti-war Democrats, the chamber earlier voted on a measure by Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., to mandate withdrawal of U.S. forces from combat zones beginning 90 days after enactment.
Although that measure failed, 255-171, it got a surprising number of votes, including two Republicans: Reps. John Duncan of Tennessee and Ron Paul of Texas. Fifty-nine Democrats voted against the measure, including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
The underlying bill by Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha, D-Pa., would provide $42.8 billion immediately, mostly for day-to-day military operations. Additional funds are included for mine-resistant vehicles, care for wounded soldiers and to train and equip Iraqi as well as Afghan forces.
Overall, the $95.5 billion for military operations is $4 billion above Bush's request, which Democrats said should inoculate them against charges they are not "fully funding" the troops. "In fact we gave even more money for the fight against terrorism," Hoyer said.
Republicans derided the bill as "rationing" funds. "The majority now finds itself in a hole, and contrary to Will Rogers' advice, it continues to dig," said Appropriations ranking member Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.
Obey noted a group of Republicans this week went to the White House to express concern over Bush's Iraq policy. "It's not the majority party that's in a hole, it is U.S. policy towards Iraq that's in a hole," he said.
The measure also includes funds for flu preparedness and to implement the 2005 base-closing round, veterans' health care and children's health insurance coverage.
The House later passed a separate bill providing agriculture disaster assistance and other aid and will package the two for Senate consideration.
Bush has threatened to veto the second bill over "excessive, non-emergency spending," although some items are expected to be dropped as the Senate approves its own supplemental next week. The Senate would fund the war through the end of the fiscal year without a second vote, but include benchmarks for the Iraqi government to meet.