Budget Makers Plan Tradeoff for -unfettered] War Funds

[rodeodance]

Source: nytimes

December 8, 2007
Budget Makers Plan Tradeoff for War Funds
By CARL HULSE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 — Congressional leaders are assembling a $500 billion package to try to resolve an impasse by providing President Bush with unfettered money for the Iraq war in exchange for new spending on popular domestic programs.

If acceptable to lawmakers and the White House, the package to be considered in the House as early as Tuesday would avert the threat of a shutdown of federal agencies and end a dispute that has lasted months and pitted Congressional Democrats against Mr. Bush and his Republican allies.

Senior lawmakers and Congressional aides said the broad outlines of the proposal called for the House to consider $30 billion for military operations in Afghanistan, as well as money for military bases and support programs for military families to quiet fears of Pentagon layoffs because of a lack of money.

The Senate would then add up to $40 billion for Iraq combat operations, with the expectation the final war spending total would produce enough Republican support to offset defections by House Democrats.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/08/washington/08spend.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[HowHasItComeToThis]

1. THUGS HAVE FOUND A WAY OUT

the threat of a shutdown of federal agencies and end a dispute that has lasted months and pitted Congressional Democrats against Mr. Bush and his Republican YESMEN.

[AndyTiedye]

2. Bush** Holds All Our Domestic Programs Hostage and Wins Just Like Always

[Voltaire99]

3. NO ONE could have seen this coming. It's so UNPRECEDENTED.

Pelosi and Reid have made Bush's life so easy, he ought to give them Xmas bonuses.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. Yep, this one is HUGH. I'm Series. The Democratic Majority leadership in action.

Currently on the Huffington Post front page, this photo and this headline:

Dems Plan To Cave On Iraq Funds

(It links to the same NYT article featured in this thread).

I'm looking for the next proclamation from Ms. Pelosi stating that Bush isn't going to be given a blank check to continue the war.