Bush, GOP Force Democrats In Congress To Concede On Range Of Issues

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional Democrats prepared Wednesday for major concessions on Iraq war funding, children's health insurance, tax policies, general spending and energy, because they could not overcome vetoes by President Bush.

The setbacks are a stinging disappointment for Democrats, who took control of the House and Senate with narrow majorities this year but never found a formula for coaxing compromises from Bush and his GOP supporters. Republicans blame Democratic hubris, but both sides agree on one thing: Voters will have a clear choice in 2008 on how Congress should be run.

The pain is deepest in the House. Many Democrats hoped to wind down the Iraq war, greatly expand children's health insurance, promote renewable fuel use and curb deficit spending, mostly by raising taxes on some groups while cutting taxes elsewhere.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters that Democrats have done all they can. "We were not elected to do what the president tells us to do,'' Hoyer said. But acknowledging political realities, he added: "If he vetoes and we can't override the veto, then we have to go in some other direction.''



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