Both Dems, GOP See Win in Iraq War Funding Bill
The U.S. Congress voted on Wednesday to continue funding U.S. overseas military operations but did not give a withdrawal deadline for troops in Iraq. Both Republicans and Democrats are claiming a victory.
“Democrats have finally conceded defeat in their effort to include mandatory surrender dates in a funding bill for the troops, so forward progress has been made for the first time in this four-month process,” House Republican leader John Boehner said after the vote.
Democrats, in their turn, said the bill was an example of how far they had been able to push the White House, which initially demanded no restrictions on war funding and opposed $20 billion in domestic and military spending added by the Democrats.
The estimated $120 billion measure would fund about $17 billion in domestic and military-related spending that Bush did not request.
The Congress were on track to pass by week’s end legislation to fund the war through September. Unable to override another presidential veto, Democrats agreed not to attach a deadline for U.S. troop withdrawals.
In order to secure the bill's passage, House leaders are planning to orchestrate two votes on Thursday. First, Senator will vote on war funding, then they will decide whether extra money should be spent on domestic emergencies, military base closures, veterans care and other social projects. The Senate is to receive a single bill and put it to vote by Friday. If Republicans want to block the added domestic spending, they would have to block the war funds as well.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said passage of the proposal would mark a turning point. “It’s a lot more than the president ever expected he'd have to agree to,” Reid, told reporters.
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All the Article in Russian as of May 24, 2007
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