Senate Republicans broke from President Bush over the weekend to aid Democrats in support for veterans and the unemployed in the form of a bill which will go to pay for another year of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The 75-22 vote also added billions of dollars in other domestic funds such as heating subsidies for the poor and money for fighting wildfires to funding for military operations overseas. Shortly afterward, the Senate voted 70-26 to approve $165 billion to pay for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring, when Bush's successor will set war policy. All told, the measure contains $212 billion over the coming two years, plus about $50 billion more through 2017 for veteran’s education benefits. The vote on the domestic add-ons was a rebuke to Bush, who has promised to veto the measure if it contains the domestic measures. However, the president still has enough GOP support in the House to sustain a veto. Some of those House Republicans who voted “present” on Iraq war funding may find themselves on the hot seat over the next week, if Democratic strategists have their way. Last week, the House for the first time ever rejected funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as Republicans held back support as a protest against domestic-spending items Democrats added to the legislation. The war funding failed 149-141, after 132 lawmakers—all Republicans—voted present. Now strategists at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the political arm of House Democrats, are readying radio ads that will air in battleground districts around the country. The goal of the ads is to hold Republicans accountable for not taking a stand – for or against – the war. "I hope President Bush watches closely what happened here today," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat. "And I hope he heeds the call of a bipartisan, veto-proof majority of Congress and the thousands of veterans who know we owe our veterans the support they deserve."
Tuesday, 27 May 2008 02:07
Senate Republicans Aid Democrats in Supporting Veterans
Senate Republicans broke from President Bush over the weekend to aid Democrats in support for veterans and the unemployed in the form of a bill which will go to pay for another year of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The 75-22 vote also added billions of dollars in other domestic funds such as heating subsidies for the poor and money for fighting wildfires to funding for military operations overseas. Shortly afterward, the Senate voted 70-26 to approve $165 billion to pay for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring, when Bush's successor will set war policy. All told, the measure contains $212 billion over the coming two years, plus about $50 billion more through 2017 for veteran’s education benefits. The vote on the domestic add-ons was a rebuke to Bush, who has promised to veto the measure if it contains the domestic measures. However, the president still has enough GOP support in the House to sustain a veto. Some of those House Republicans who voted “present” on Iraq war funding may find themselves on the hot seat over the next week, if Democratic strategists have their way. Last week, the House for the first time ever rejected funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as Republicans held back support as a protest against domestic-spending items Democrats added to the legislation. The war funding failed 149-141, after 132 lawmakers—all Republicans—voted present. Now strategists at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the political arm of House Democrats, are readying radio ads that will air in battleground districts around the country. The goal of the ads is to hold Republicans accountable for not taking a stand – for or against – the war. "I hope President Bush watches closely what happened here today," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat. "And I hope he heeds the call of a bipartisan, veto-proof majority of Congress and the thousands of veterans who know we owe our veterans the support they deserve."
