House Dems Ready To Fight Bush On War Funding

The Democratic chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee said today that he was ready to go to the mat with President Bush over further funding for the war in Iraq.

Rep. David Obey (D-WI), who spoke today with Reps. John Murtha (D-PA) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), says he has "absolutely no intention of reporting out of Committee anytime in this session of Congress any such request that simply serves to continue the status quo." He laid our three conditions for the White House to meet:

1. Establish as a goal the end of U.S. involvement in combat operations by January of 2009.

2. Ensure that troops would have adequate time at home between deployments as outlined in the Murtha and Webb amendments.

3. Demonstrate a determination to engage in an intensive, broad scale diplomatic offensive involving other countries in the region.

Read his full statement below:

In addition to the regular defense appropriation request of $463 billion, the President is asking Congress to appropriate an additional supplemental request of almost $200 billion - a blank check to finance U.S. activities in Iraq - and he clearly expects that request to be repeated for years to come.

"I would be more than willing to report out a supplemental meeting the President's request if that request were made in support of a change in policy that would do three things.

1. Establish as a goal the end of U.S. involvement in combat operations by January of 2009.

2. Ensure that troops would have adequate time at home between deployments as outlined in the Murtha and Webb amendments.

3. Demonstrate a determination to engage in an intensive, broad scale diplomatic offensive involving other countries in the region.

"But this policy does not do that. It simply borrows almost $200 billion to give to the Departments of State, Defense, Energy, and Justice with no change in sight.

"As Chairman of the Appropriations Committee I have absolutely no intention of reporting out of Committee anytime in this session of Congress any such request that simply serves to continue the status quo.

"I also have no intention of acquiescing in a policy that will result in draining the treasury so dry that it will result in the systematic disinvestment of America's future.

Comments

[Krashkopf]

I am not surprised that the "mainstream media" has not picked up on the significance of Obey's statement. If they report this story at all, they report the much less important "war sur tax" aspect. I AM surprised, however, that the progressive blogosphere is not ALL OVER this VERY IMPORTANT developement. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Obey controls "the power of the purse." Nancy Pelosi does not have the power, or the balls, for that matter, to FORCE him to report an Iraqi Supplemental Funding bill out of his committee. Obey doesn't need 60 votes, or 40 votes, to "bottle up" the Supplemental funding bill. All he needs is the political will stand firm in his position. If the left stands behind him (I just called his office to offer my support) and Obey does not budge on his position, Bush will either have to change course on Iraq, OR, the money for his war WILL BE cut off! Come ON you lefties! This IS exactly what we have been demanding the Democrats do! Let Obey know you are behind him 100%, and let Pelosi, and Hoyer, and Reid know it too!

[Rudym]

Time for a IRAQ WAR TAX to pay for war funding instead of passing the cost on to the Federal Deficit. The Federal Deficit spending is like a Pyramid Scheme. The higher it gets, the higher proportion of our taxes are paid to pay interest for the borrowed funds. That means every tax dollar spent by the government pays less for government services and more for interest for the bonds issued for the Federal Deficit. 190 Billion only means every person, including all children and retired folks, only has to pay $650.00 each for the IRAQ WAR this year. A family of four will only have to pay $2600.00. Bush said Iraq oil would pay for the cost but I think he miscalculated a little.

[AstralTechnician]

Newt Gingrich used to talk about 'defunding the Left.' Defunding the White House is long overdue.

I hope Obey stands his ground. I hope hi$ con$tituant$ and like minded Democrat$ offer him their generou$ $upport...hint hint...

[HolesInMyBoots]

Haven't posted in a while, but, I can say with confidence that this is not true. The Dems fight? come on. They are hollow. This is now the Democrats war and look, it's expanding to Iran. Wow, that Democratic Majority really changed the world. I'm sick of the Dems being treated as though they can change anything, they are just as guilty as the Reps. It was obvious how spineless and useless they would be when madam speaker declared impeachment is off the table.

[judyinnm]

Where's HE been, all this time?

[HERBMOSH]

CHAIRMAN DAVID OBEY CAN BE A TIGER. HOPE HE HAS AUTHORITY AS CHAIRMAN TO STOP A FUNDING BILL.

BUT MY EXPERIENCE TELLS ME THAT OTHER SPINELESS DEMOCRATS INCLUDING PELOSI WILL "FORCE" HIM TO FUND BUSH'S WAR.

HOPE I'M WRONG.