House Leaders Reach Iraq War Funding Deal Without Deadline For Withdrawal

New York Times:

House leaders struck a bipartisan deal on Wednesday night on a major spending measure that would provide money for the war in Iraq through the end of the Bush administration, establish a significant new education benefit for veterans, and meet Democratic demands for added unemployment benefits.

The bill, which could be voted on as early as Thursday in the House, would effectively bring to a close the two-year battle between President Bush and Congressional Democrats over war financing by allocating about $163 billion for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year without imposing conditions like a withdrawal deadline.

White House officials took part in the talks that produced the agreement, suggesting the president was willing to sign the emerging legislation.

"I think we have an agreement," said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, who worked out the final deal in talks with Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader, as well as senior members of both parties from the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[memphispaul]

Steny the sell out strikes again.
Today it is the war. Tomorrow it will be FISA.
Steny, the new Tom DeLay and the leader of the "K street project" redux.

[jsarets]

Ugh... Our government is so completely broken! All it can do now is lavish both sides of the ideological spectrum with copious amounts of deficit spending.

None of the spending in this appropriations bill comes with any way to pay for it. It goes directly to the national public debt where we will pay interest on it for generations. As awful as that may seem, it's the only politically viable way to fund anything these days.

They don't have the courage to raise taxes, they don't have the will to cut spending, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that we need to do both -- substantially -- while mending a socioeconomic fabric that has been unraveling for decades.

We need our government to do more with less -- a familiar directive in the business world -- but that's a heck of a lot to ask from an institution that seemingly can't do anything right no matter how aggressively they mortgage our future.

[rivrgrrl]

""I think we have an agreement," said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland,...."

Wow. They must be so proud. They've made a deal with a lying, murdering sycophant......again.

But.....yes, what smokey says below is correct. Patience is called for. And we did get some REAL support for our troops.

[scooperss]

There was NO deal. They flat out folded........................AGAIN.

[HotATL]

That's why people don't vote. They can't tell the parties apart. The Republicans give the president everything that he wants. The Democrates gives him what he wants then spends some more money.

[research]

Pelosi rahm and the DLC.org DINOS have got to go!

We will remember your votes. I supported Golub's run against Pelosi, I will support Sheehans run against Pelosi.

You just voted to continue a WAR CRIME!

[ErnestineBass]

Thanks, research. Every time I rant on rahm, I either get flamed as an Anti-Semi or banned.

[BadCompany]

He's a slimy character.

[researcher]

amen the all should be put on trial for war c rimes

america is now a war mongering country

they are using the war funding to get earmarks

pure slime and war mongers

impeach nancy now

[elbzee]

I think once we really do crash (which is just around the corner) there won't be very many safe politicians. I foresee hunger, homelessness, and suffering for millions of Americans. I can't imagine where these "leaders" will hide from us. While they've made themselves rich they will have destroyed millions upon millions of people's lives. Is it possible they really think we'll forget who raped us this way?

[vippy]

Aren't we being played - did we really think we have two (2) parties???? They are all under one blanket, getting rich on my and your dime while they change the laws to benefit themselves and the
rich and the average person gets screwed. If we just weren't so predictable. Remember, do not educate the masses for we want to control their mindset say the politicians.
Are we fed up yet?

[ErnestineBass]

Totally fed up, vippy, TOTALLY!

[rivrgrrl]

November will answer that question.

[AryanMjolnir]

They're under one blanket alright...Bush is on top of Pelosi, Cheney's on top of Condi..the depravity never ends.

[smokeystover39]

A wise move by Pelosi & Co. Putting a withdrawl time limit into next year would tie the hands of the next Prez. Barack needs to be in control and make that decision. With all the smoke and mirrors of the Bu$h Reich we won't know what's true until he takes control. Consider just this one point: under the Bu$h Crime Family what happens to those who speak outside the script? They get the boot. So all we know now about 9/11, Iraq, etc is what the Bu$h puppets tell us. The truth will start to come out beginning 1/21/09 and that's when withdrawl deadlines will mean something.

Second point; the current deal: "...establish(es) a significant new education benefit for veterans, and meet Democratic demands for added unemployment benefits." Are these bad accomplishments?

With Barack in the White House and a democratic Congress a lotta good stuff will begin to happen. We have to exercise a little patience - we've gone through almost 8 years of bullsh*t - a couple of months more until 11/08 is not too long to wait. Stay strong!

[TommyBobama]

The Democrats cave on "redeployment" out of Iraq.

And in other news:

Dog bites man. Film at eleven.

[wmbear]

SO, IN OTHER WORDS....

The Democrats in Congress caved yet again. So why am I still a registered Democrat? Because the Republicans are even bigger @ssholes. And so-called Independents don't know theirs from a hole in the ground....

[scooperss]

Register as an Indie and then help them to get their act together. We need more good people.

[Tropiholic]

these fools will ALL be voted out nest time, mark my words.

[Tropiholic]

that's NEXT, oops

[ErnestineBass]

Atz OK, Tropi...I got it. And I agree with you 100%.

VOTE OUT (the worst of) THE INCUMBENTS!!!

It's not just time for a change, it's time for a MAJOR change.

[vippy]

Well, I have been saying that for years and since the politicians know that the majority of people
don't want to be bothered with these depressing news on politics they get away with everything.
Voting themselves automatic huge pay raises while they turn down our min. wage increase
for instance. They have us over a barrel since Joe Public is too disinterested but yet gets to vote because he heard the name before and has no clue about issues.
We want change but Obama alone cannot get it done, he has the same old congress, house and
senate and we need to start a grass root effort to get them all replaced with new blood. That should send a message that we, who put them in office, have the power to remove them.
But, good luck.....

[incontempt]

I demand that this ENRON LOOPHOLE is CLOSED BEFORE SUMMER RECESS!!

[LiberalBuzz]

You and me both. I first heard about this a few years ago but didn't quite understand what it was about until Keith gave a GREAT explanation as to how ENRON with the help of Phil Grahamm helped to screw the American public for the profits of a few corrupt companies.

GET RID OF THE ENRON LOOPHOLE!!!

[Pquilson]

Perhaps you should notify Congress. Maybe they can help on this demand. Or, Maybe not.

[Liam]

I assume, since it didn't say otherwise, that there's no telecom immunity?

[marinemomof3]

I believe FISA is a different issue. I believe they caved on that too.

they all need to be fired, every single one of them.

How they approve FISA and Funding??

For what??

[Liam]

At one point they were talking about the telecom immunity with a war funding bill, although now that you mention it, lately it has been as part of the FISA bill.

And I thought the Senate had caved but the house didn't, and so thus far, it still wasn't part of the bill.

Does anyone know for sure?

Liam.

[scooperss]

hoyer caved there too. Gave the repubs and the telecoms what they want and called it a compromise. Lying asshat.

[jwws007]

so what else is new. i like the obama is flip flopping on the trade issue as well. guess it's gonna be 8 more years of the same

[harriscrl3]

I bet you go around and post this everywhere. Obama stated he supporter of free trade but we can neogtiate better terms for American workers now unless he said I dont like Free trade and there will be no negotiating I fail to see where the flip flopping comes from.

Youre confused McCain is the flip flopper for no reason other than panderer.

As far as Iraq Obama had said himself that getting out has to be done carefully that they might have to reassess the situation but the difference is HE WANTS TO GET OUT. McCain wants to stay in. So who would I trust to get us out the person who wants to get out and didnt want us to go in the first place or the person who wants to stay in and was happy to go in. Thats a no brainer.

Carol

[Pquilson]

Perhaps the better choice would be the one who knows what is going on in Iraq and the one who does not. Wanting to get out is definitely not the same as getting out.