"WAIT! Does this mean I can't ram it down Bush's throat?
Posted on 05/21/2007 1:14:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - In grudging concessions to President Bush, Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programs, officials said Monday.
The legislation would include the first federal minimum wage increase in more than a decade, a top priority for the Democrats who took control of Congress in January, the officials added.
While details remain subject to change, the measure is designed to close the books by Friday on a bruising veto fight between Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress over the war. It would provide funds for military operations in Iraq through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Democrats in both houses are expected to seek other opportunities to challenge Bush's handling of the unpopular conflict later this year.
Democratic officials stressed the legislation was subject to change. They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss provisions before a planned presentation to members of the party's rank and file later in the day.
Democrats in Congress have insisted for months they would not give Bush a blank check for his war policies, and officials said the legislation is expected to include political and military goals for the Iraqi government to meet toward establishment of a more democratic society.
Failure to make progress toward the goals could cost the Iraqis some of the reconstruction aid the United States has promised, although it was not clear whether Democrats intended to give Bush power to order the aid to be spent regardless of progress.
Several officials said it was possible that Democrats would attempt to draft a second bill, to include much of the domestic spending that Bush and congressional Republicans have said they oppose.
Either way, Democratic leaders have said they hope to clear a war spending bill through both houses of Congress and send it to Bush's desk by week's end. They added the intention was to avoid a veto.
Bush vetoed one bill this spring after Democrats included a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq, and Republicans in the House upheld his rejection of the measure.
The House then passed legislation to provide war funds in two 60-day installments. Bush threatened a veto, and the measure was sidetracked in the Senate in favor of a non-controversial bill that merely pledged to give the troops the resources they need.
That set the stage for the current House-Senate negotiations on a measure to send to Bush.
President Bush knows what he is doing. He is a smart man. He held out and now he will get the funding he needs for the troops with no timeline.
And he is trying to save the GOP by passing an immigration bill that will help us with the hispanic vote in 2008 so we can keep the White House and get the Senate back.
Go President Bush!
God bless President Bush. God bless our troops. God bless America.
The immigration bill under consideration will be a disaster for the Republican Party.
For every alien offered citizenship, those who vote will break 3:1 for the RATS from coast to coast.
The 90 to 100 billions dollars bill will go at least for June of 2008. The President, our brave troops, the minority of Patriots, and of course America won this very important battle of funding the troops.
What is the Federal cost of this? Guess: $0 + printing cost.
I wish you were right. The fiscal year of the federal govt runs from October 1 - September 30. This funding will only last through September 30.
The President did not blink on "No Child Left behind", "Illegal immigration" or "Drug Prescription" for some citizens, he proposed it and he campaigned on it and he won the Presidency twice. Campaign Finance Reform is in my opinion the most overrated "scare tactics" used by our side. The Law of Sea is another overly misunderstood treaty that has been changed to the US favor 10 years ago, but some people on our side are totally hysteric and do not want to get the facts, but just blame the President for everything.
Go and ask the "So Powerful Democrats" as you see them, how many issues that they campaigned on in 2006 passed the Congress let alone how many were signed by the President. You will find that out that "The Super Democrats" as your knee jerk character see them, are much, much, much weaker than they appear to be or as their media, and the knee jerk conservatives make them to be.
The war in Iraq cost 2 billions dollars a week, thus 100 billion dollars funds means it will last 50 weeks. If by June the President sign the new 100 billion bill which has no surrender date, then this bill will last till June of 2008.
The vast majority of the illegal immigrants will not take the risks described above, but they will be more than happy to just get a working visa where they can work and go back and forth to their country without being deported.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
There is a difference between supporting a policy, and caving into a policy.
Bush has not blinked. He stood his ground, and the Defeatocrats backed down.
If the war is not winnable and the Democrats are concerned about the wasted lives of the troops, they are willing to trade that for a minimum wage increase?
Disgusting.
By the time the Bush haters get done, Bush certainly caved.
What? This still hasn't passed? I thought GrannyNanny was going to accomplish this, like, instantly. During her first 100 hours (or are we still in the first 100 hours?) I did hear it got held up because Republicans demanded a corresponding tax break for businesses. Otherwise, a minimum wage hike = loss of jobs, and we all know it.
I am sure you know that non of the illegal immigrants will become citizen in 2008, not in 2012, and not even in 2016.
I am not in the mood to get into any arguments, but I will offer these observations:
1. The Iraqi supplemental is for the current fiscal year. The Congress is way behind in its responsibility. The money in the bill is for this fiscal year ending September 30. How much is allowed to be carried over is a question. It is very unlikely that the RATS will allow a dime to be spent after October 1. Remember aid to the Contras and the Boland Amendment?
2. Whether the illegals become citizens next year or ten years from now is highly irrelevant. Once they are citizens, they will vote 3:1 Democratic. This bill is political suicide for the GOP. Moreover, once the RATS have the White House and both congressional chambers in 2009, they will amend the Immigration bill to wave all the procedural safeguards in which you take comfort. With all due respect, in my view your position is highly naive from a political standpoint. No good immigration public policy should proceed until our borders are demonstrably sealed. If Senator Domenici apparently agrees with this assertion, then it is not necessary to go beyond a borders-only bill at this time. The liberals are being disingenuous at best if they state that enforcement must come first. They don’t give a damn about enforcement; indeed it is contrary to their political interests.
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