Under increasing pressure from their anti-war base, House Democrats are preparing to pass another bill by next week aimed at ending the war in Iraq, but the proposed legislation is not binding and is all but certain to result in a presidential veto.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the House will likely vote today on a $50 billion, four-month “bridge” fund for Iraq that will set a “goal” for President Bush to bring the troops home within a year and stipulate that the money be used only for fighting Al Qaeda and boosting Iraqi security forces.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Senate would take up the legislation next week.
Congress has suffered from abysmal approval ratings in recent months and top Democrats have blamed it on their inability to end the war, which was their top campaign promise in 2006.
The bridge fund is a fraction of the $196 billion Bush is seeking to supplement Iraq war funding. It is similar to a measure Bush vetoed in May, and it includes language that would require all government interrogation techniques to follow the Army Field Manual, which prohibits torture tactics.
Pelosi said even though the bill would not force the president to end the war, it “gives voice” to the anti-war public while providing funds for the troops.
“This is not a blank check for the president,” Pelosi said. “This is providing funding for the troops, limited to particular purposes, with a short time frame.”
Republicans criticized the bill, pointing to successes resulting from the military surge that began earlier this year.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, called the legislation “a political stunt.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., painted the Democrats as unsupportive of the military.
“While our troops are quelling violence and defeating terrorists in Baghdad and throughout Iraq, Democrats in Washington are trying to choke off funds for our troops in the field,” McConnell said.
It may not be easy for Democrats to get their own party to support the bill, thanks to a large faction of liberals who have pledged to oppose any more spending for the war beyond money needed to end it.
But some House Democrats said they understand Pelosi’s motives for moving another non-binding bill.
“This is not a futile exercise,” said Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla. “You have to keep moving the ball forward. If you do nothing, then you are going to see anger in our base.”
