Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Wall Street Journal
May 10, 2008
Pg. 2
By Sarah Lueck
Democratic leaders in the House have been hoping for quick passage of emergency funding for the Iraq war -- an issue that splits their party and diverts valuable attention from the economic issues they think will help them win this year's elections.
But next week will show just how difficult it is for Democrats to put the war-funding debate behind them.
The House -- where lawmakers had hoped to finish the bill by Memorial Day -- is expected to vote next week on legislation that provides emergency war funding as well as expanded education benefits for veterans and extended unemployment benefits for people who are out of work. But the Senate also must act. And the legislation is likely destined for a veto from President Bush over the domestic spending items.
Even in the House, Democrats ran into trouble last week. Fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats have threatened to prevent passage of the legislation because of the $51.8 billion over 10 years for veterans' education benefits. Many Blue Dogs, whose 48 members are enough to sway a vote, say Democrats' pay-as-you-go budget rule should be followed. It requires that new spending programs be offset by cuts or tax increases elsewhere.
The majority of Blue Dogs "do not like the way this is being done," said Rep. Allen Boyd (D., Fla.), a leader of the group. "I wouldn't under any circumstances vote for legislation...that violates the pay-go principle."
House Democratic leaders are working on finding at least some offsets to quell the protest and get the bill through the House.
The House bill includes $183.7 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, an amount that covers costs into summer 2009 and nearly matches requests from President Bush. The amount also covers international food aid, military construction and levee rebuilding in Louisiana.
House Democrats also will hold a vote on new restrictions for the Iraq war, including a requirement that combat troops begin leaving within 30 days, with a goal of completing withdrawal by December 2009. The restrictions are not expected to make it through the Senate but are important to the House's antiwar Democrats.
In addition to the money for veterans' education, Democrats plan to attach $11.1 billion over 10 years for a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits.
House Democratic leaders have set a floor strategy intended to deal with the different views of the war within their party. Three separate votes will be held: one on the war funding, one on the war restrictions and one on the domestic-spending items. No lawmaker will have to vote for all three items. The procedure will allow antiwar Democrats to support the domestic programs but vote against the funding for Iraq. Fiscal conservatives can oppose the domestic spending but vote for the war funding.
In the Senate, the Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider similar legislation next week, but plans to add more domestic items than the House did, including $1.2 billion for science and health research programs and $451 million to repair damaged roads and bridges.
Mr. Bush has said he would veto Iraq funding legislation that includes extra spending on domestic items. That makes it increasingly likely that the fight could stretch into the summer.
May 10, 2008
Pg. 2
By Sarah Lueck
Democratic leaders in the House have been hoping for quick passage of emergency funding for the Iraq war -- an issue that splits their party and diverts valuable attention from the economic issues they think will help them win this year's elections.
But next week will show just how difficult it is for Democrats to put the war-funding debate behind them.
The House -- where lawmakers had hoped to finish the bill by Memorial Day -- is expected to vote next week on legislation that provides emergency war funding as well as expanded education benefits for veterans and extended unemployment benefits for people who are out of work. But the Senate also must act. And the legislation is likely destined for a veto from President Bush over the domestic spending items.
Even in the House, Democrats ran into trouble last week. Fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats have threatened to prevent passage of the legislation because of the $51.8 billion over 10 years for veterans' education benefits. Many Blue Dogs, whose 48 members are enough to sway a vote, say Democrats' pay-as-you-go budget rule should be followed. It requires that new spending programs be offset by cuts or tax increases elsewhere.
The majority of Blue Dogs "do not like the way this is being done," said Rep. Allen Boyd (D., Fla.), a leader of the group. "I wouldn't under any circumstances vote for legislation...that violates the pay-go principle."
House Democratic leaders are working on finding at least some offsets to quell the protest and get the bill through the House.
The House bill includes $183.7 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, an amount that covers costs into summer 2009 and nearly matches requests from President Bush. The amount also covers international food aid, military construction and levee rebuilding in Louisiana.
House Democrats also will hold a vote on new restrictions for the Iraq war, including a requirement that combat troops begin leaving within 30 days, with a goal of completing withdrawal by December 2009. The restrictions are not expected to make it through the Senate but are important to the House's antiwar Democrats.
In addition to the money for veterans' education, Democrats plan to attach $11.1 billion over 10 years for a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits.
House Democratic leaders have set a floor strategy intended to deal with the different views of the war within their party. Three separate votes will be held: one on the war funding, one on the war restrictions and one on the domestic-spending items. No lawmaker will have to vote for all three items. The procedure will allow antiwar Democrats to support the domestic programs but vote against the funding for Iraq. Fiscal conservatives can oppose the domestic spending but vote for the war funding.
In the Senate, the Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider similar legislation next week, but plans to add more domestic items than the House did, including $1.2 billion for science and health research programs and $451 million to repair damaged roads and bridges.
Mr. Bush has said he would veto Iraq funding legislation that includes extra spending on domestic items. That makes it increasingly likely that the fight could stretch into the summer.