Democrats continue to struggle with war funding

AP via SFGate ^ | 6/11/8 | ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Even as Democrats controlling Congress continue to struggle with a long-overdue war funding bill, they are starting work on a series of spending measures for next year that are doomed by veto promises from President Bush.

The first of those 12 bills, funding agency budgets for the budget year beginning Oct. 1, would award an almost 6 percent increase to the Homeland Security Department. A House Appropriations panel approved the $39.9 billion measure unanimously on Wednesday.

The measure is likely to earn a Bush veto threat for costing too much and it's unclear whether Democrats will even try to send the measure to the White House.

Some Democratic leaders have suggested they'll wait until next year to wrap up the 12 annual spending bills in hopes of dealing with a more flexible Democratic administration.

Meanwhile, an internal party battle over how to try to pass an extension of unemployment benefits — combined with difficult negotiations with the White House — has stalled House action on $165.4 billion in Senate-passed funding for Pentagon operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In fact, progress has been made behind the scenes with White House negotiators over the outlines of a bill Bush would be willing to sign.

[ripley]

“democrats continue to struggle with war funding”

translation: “democrats continue to struggle with linking war funding to immediate troop withdrawal”