Democrats to delay funding for Iraq war

[rodeodance]

Source: ap




Democrats to delay funding for Iraq war

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democrats are poised to delay money for the Iraq war by several weeks, giving them time to calculate their next move and see if Republican support for President Bush's policies deteriorate.

The funding delay would likely cause only a minor disruption for the Defense Department. But it will escalate an already heated standoff between the Democratic-controlled Congress and Bush, who says at least 130,000 troops are needed in Iraq through next summer.

"Just because this administration wears blinders, we cannot afford the limitations of their shortsighted world view," said Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a Vietnam veteran and prominent war critic.

Democrats are in a tough spot. Still lacking enough votes in the Senate to pass legislation ordering troops home by spring, they would have to soften their approach if they want to attract more Republicans. But doing so would rile much of the party's rank-and-file, elected on anti-war platforms and eager to cut off money for combat.........

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070917/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq ;_ylt=Askef2ecTXrKV1p0sSP4XwOs0NUE

[babylonsister]

1. YES! nt

[ClayZ]

2. Yay! Not another cent! K and R

[zabet]

3. Good!

[rodeodance]

4. ..... the military is expected to be granted the authority to transfer money between accounts, .....

....In the meantime, Congress is expected to approve the Pentagon's nearly half trillion annual budget, which omits war spending. That money covers routine costs, including training, payrolls and weapons procurement.

Under that bill, the military is expected to be granted the authority to transfer money between accounts, potentially keeping the war afloat for several more months.

Murtha and other Democrats say final passage of the annual spending bill — anticipated by early October — curbs the urgency of the separate war spending bill. It also lends breathing space to a party divided on what to do next.

Murtha has said he favors paying for the war in three- or four-month installments. Other Democrats say they don't want to leave the impression that Congress could cut off money for the troops at any given month; they favor bills aimed at forcing a change in policy.

In the Senate, debate resumed on several war-related policy measures.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he would recommend a veto of one proposal — a bill by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., that would require troops to spend as much time at their home station as they do in Iraq.

[rodeodance]

6. seems this delay will have little effect-maybe some extra bookkeeping for the PENT.

[Greeby]

5. If delay helps some Congresscritters move to the

"No funds period" column, all the better

[Vincardog]

7. Once again they do not need 60 votes to NOT fund anything

That BS about supporting the troops by spending money to continue to get them killed is BULLSHIT

[EVDebs]

15. All they need to NOT do is let ANY bill out of committee. No bill, no vote, no veto. Toughski

Shitski no Iraqi fiasco further.

[Vincardog]

18. Will someone please explain to our elected "leadership" how it works?

[EVDebs]

21. This would win Rep David Obey a "Profiles In Courage" award

but I think they just don't get it yet.

"The Committee on Appropriations, which makes funding decisions on every discretionary program in the federal budget. Dave is the Chairman of the Committee. "

http://obey.house.gov/HoR/WI07/Contact+Dave/

[pwb]

8. I favor a cut off of funds.

And if that doesn't work, a hefty tax on the wealthy or corporations to pay for it, no more borrowing money for war.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Awright now .... take a deep breath and repeat after me .......

'Republican support for President Bush's policies' will **always** be there.

What of it? It doesn't matter, people.

If you can muster the balls to delay funding for a while, you can muster balls to delay it for a longer while ..... and then longer ...... and then longers till.

Tell ya what. Instead of seeing what happens to 'Republican support for President Bush's policies' try measuring **support** for you stalling on the finding. I bet you'll be surprised. I'll bet there will be many who congratulate you for FINALLY getting it.

[creeksneakers2]

10. They should cut the defense budget too

Drastically.

[superconnected]

11. Why do I feel like this is like when hillary throws us a bone...

I won't believe they are doing anything but lip services until I see them delay funding for at very least 3 months. As it stands I'll bet they won't hold out one month.

I have been burned by pelosi and company's lip service too many times (and too consistently) to take this seriously. They need to PROVE it. I'll give another opinion in a month, but I know by then they'll have signed the check.

[jkshaw]

12. Senator Salazar (D, CO) on funding --

Congress could sever Iraq funding, Salazar says
By Anne C. Mulkern
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/17/2007 01:39:34 PM MDT

Washington — Congress should look at cutting off funding for the Iraq war if Senate efforts to change the role of U.S. troops in the battlefield fail, Sen. Ken Salazar said today.

Salazar, a Colorado Democrat, previously has not supported Congress using its ability to stop war payments in order to force President Bush to change direction.

While in Iraq over the weekend, Salazar said, some servicemen and women told him that they wanted Congress to cut off funding.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6919211

[tridim]

13. Wow! Never expected that from Salazar. nt

[EVDebs]

14. Pssst. Delay it past Oct 1st. See what happens next... eom

[unhappycamper]

16. Very interesting.

I posted this in the Veterans forum last week:

Pentagon faces cash crunch in October.

[Orsino]

17. ...before giving in and funding it anyway.

This sounds great, but I'm gonna believe it when I see it.

A real defunding should not be weaseled in as a "delay." If they mean it, do it now, so as to give * time to choose how his hot dish of crow is cooked.

[TheWatcher]

19. Throwing the faithful another bone.

Until they roll over and resume their course.

Sorry, I'll believe it when they stand up for real and cut it off entirely.

We'll see.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

20. All talk.

I simply do not believe this will happen.

I hope to be proven wrong.

[Javaman]

22. I want to be proven wrong, but alas I fear I won't.

to paraphrase a cubs fan, "democrats are 90% scar tissue".

[Carrieyazel]

23. This catastrophe will rumble on. Hillary and Obama's Senate is powerless to stop it.