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Washington Digest: Iraq withdrawal bill falters Monday, Nov 19, 2007 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Like dozens of anti-war bills before it, a measure last week that would link additional war funding to troop withdrawals from Iraq failed in the Senate. The legislation that called for U.S. forces to leave Iraq by Dec. 15, 2008, narrowly passed the House in a 218-203 party-line vote. In the Senate, where Democrats hold a smaller majority, the bill died in a procedural vote, 53-45. Sixty votes were needed to advance it. The bill would provide $50 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan contingent on troop redeployments from Iraq to begin within 30 days. Most U.S. troops would be out of Iraq by late 2008. Democrats frustrated with President Bush's war strategy have tried 41 times this year to curtail military action in Iraq. Most attempts have stalled in the Senate. None have been enacted. The president has asked Congress for nearly $200 billion in supplemental funding to cover the cost of the wars in the Middle East. The Pentagon has enough money to continue operations until mid-February without the additional appropriation, though layoffs of civilian employees are possible without the additional appropriation by that time, administration officials said. Republicans argued that American troops should be given the money necessary to do their jobs. They said Democrats were unwise to try to stop the war when it appears progress is being made in Iraq. Reps. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, and Mike Ross, D-Prescott, voted for the bill in the House. Reps. John Boozman, R-Rogers, and Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, opposed it. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, both D-Ark., voted to advance the measure in the Senate. A Republican alternative that would provide $70 billion in war supplemental funding with no strings attached failed to get enough votes to advance in the Senate. The 45-53 outcome was 15 votes short of the number needed to end debate. Lincoln and Pryor opposed the Republican bill. House sustains Bush veto The House failed to override the president's veto of a bill that would fund labor, health, and education programs, forcing new negotiations on the $600 billion spending bill for fiscal 2008. The override effort fell two votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to nullify the president's veto. The vote was 277-141. Bush said the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill contained too many special projects that put the cost at $10 billion over his budget request. Democrats said the White House has ignored key domestic priorities while funneling money into the war. They criticized him for seeking $200 billion more for the war, yet chastising Democrats for their fiscal policies. Congressional leaders said a new labor, education and health spending bill would be combined with other appropriations legislation in a large "omnibus" spending package that splits the difference between what Congress seeks and what the president has requested. That would require lawmakers to trim about $11 billion from the bills to fund Cabinet departments. Berry, Ross and Snyder voted to override the veto. Boozman voted against an override. Mortgage overhaul clears House In response to a growing number of home foreclosures, the House voted 291-127 to revamp the mortgage industry, requiring mortgage brokers to be federally licensed and preventing lenders from making loans that consumers will not be able to repay. The advocacy group Center for Responsible Lending has estimated more than 2 million consumers who have subprime loans will lose their properties to foreclosure. Consumers have defaulted on their home loans as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgages have increased. The bill institutes penalties for lenders who convince homeowners to refinance mortgages that do not provide any benefits. It makes it more difficult for lenders to institute fees that increase the risk of foreclosure. Opponents said Congress should not interfere with mortgage markets and that it would be difficult for lenders to know whether borrowers could pay back loans. Berry, Ross and Snyder voted for the bill. Boozman voted no. Bill excludes phone company immunity Telephone companies that cooperate with the federal government's warrantless wiretapping would not be immune to lawsuits in a measure that passed the House, 227-189. The change to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act brought a veto threat from the president, who said he would not sign the bill unless it the immunity for phone companies was made retroactive. The House bill would require the Bush administration to seek a warrant from a secret court before it could eavesdrop on terrorist targets possibly communicating with people inside the United States. A temporary FISA bill was approved by Congress in August. It expires in February. The administration maintains it needs broad spying power in order to protect American interests. Critics said warrantless surveillance could infringe on civil liberties. Berry, Ross and Snyder voted for the bill. Boozman opposed it. Farm Bill stalled Prospects for farm legislation this year grew bleak in the Senate as Republicans and Democrats disagreed over whether to add amendments to the $288 billion Farm Bill. Democrats tried to block any amendments that did not pertain to agriculture, while Republicans sought to add on measures relating to taxation and illegal immigration. With Democratic leaders refusing to accept Republican amendments, GOP senators blocked consideration of the bill. Democrats said Republicans are trying intentionally to derail the Farm Bill, which Bush has threatened to veto. The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said it is possible that existing farm legislation will be extended through next year. The bill that reauthorizes funding for farm subsidies and nutrition programs like Food Stamps is normally considered every five years. A vote to move forward with the bill fell five votes short, 55-42. Lincoln and Pryor voted to advance the bill. |
