Dems set war bill without Iraq timeline
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Dems set war bill without Iraq timeline
Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit
AP via Yahoo - May 21, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq
By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) - 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 later
this year to challenge Bush's handling of the unpopular conflict.
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.
The Democrats' attempt to draft war funding legislation occurred after
an inconclusive meeting on Friday involving White House Chief of Staff
Josh Bolten and the Republican and Democratic leaders of Congress.
Democrats criticized the administration for rejecting calls for a troop
withdrawal timetable even if Bush has the power to waive it.
For his part, Bolten criticized Democrats for persisting with an
approach that had already sparked one veto. He noted the president had
already said he was willing to consider legislation that included
so-called benchmarks for the Iraqi government.
Both the House and Senate have approved legislation raising the minimum
wage of $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour in three separate 70-cent
increases over 26 months. The measures both included modest tax breaks,
mainly aimed at helping businesses that hire low-skilled or handicapped
workers.
White House officials have said Bush is amenable to accepting an
increase in the minimum wage, although they and key GOP lawmakers favor
larger tax cuts to accompany the measure.
*
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