House votes to provide $162 billion in war funding
A much-delayed Iraq war funding bill sailed through the House on Thursday, along with a doubling of college aid for returning troops and help for the unemployed and Midwestern flood victims.
Republican allies of President Bush provided the winning margin in a 268-155 vote to provide $162 billion to fund U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan well into next year.
Democrats opposed to the war, however, succeeded in using the Iraq funding bill as an engine to drive past White House resistance a sweeping revision to GI Bill college benefits and a 13-week extension of unemployment checks for those whose benefits have run out.
Lawmakers separately approved those domestic add-ons by a 416-12 vote, sending the combined bill to the Senate for a vote next week. The White House issued a statement supporting the legislation.
The measure also provides a quick $2.7 billion infusion of emergency flood relief for the Midwest, though more is expected to be needed to deal with the major losses in Iowa, Illinois and other states.
The bill would bring to more than $650 billion the amount provided by Congress for the war in Iraq since it started five years ago. Nearly $200 billion in additional funding has gone to operations in Afghanistan, according to congressional analysts.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next Page »
Loading Menu
Member Comments
Posted By: gary goldbladt @ 05/22/2008 9:46:35 PM
Comment: The idea that a senator has to be present in the senate at a specific time to vote for, or against, a bill is archaic, and stupid. If only the dear Senator Mc Cain had been allowed to call, e-mail, telex, text-message, or fax his approval or disapproval of this bill, he could have shared in this moment of glory.: the American Congress has finally recognized and rewarded the sacrifice of those who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Instead, Senator McCain's only contribution was to offer a watered-down version of the GI Bill that passed: Overwhelming!
Posted By: Nins @ 05/22/2008 12:16:47 AM
Comment:
Oil and war, war and oil. Environmental destruction. Endless greed. US corporations getting tax breaks while shipping jobs overseas to countries that have no environmental protection laws, no workers' rights, no human rights. Countries where people are factory slaves and the air is so polluted you can hardly breathe. US military violating the Geneva convention, torturing prisoners. US government imprisoning people without charging them with any crimes, and holding them for years without trial. Working class Americans losing their homes in a mortgage banking scandal, and the government bails out the banks, not the working people.
It's simple:
If you are sickened by these things, vote for Obama. If you think these are good things, vote for McCain.
I'm a Republican and I own two corporations. I thought it would be a cold day in hell before I ever said anything like this. But the unprecedented corporate greed aided and abetted by an unscrupulous Presidential administration is now starting to take down the US economy. I have to stand up and protest.
Corporations are good only insofar as they strengthen America. When they start to weaken us, we need to re-evaluate the rules and regulations governing business.
And we need to get rid of George W. Bush, along with all of his misguided policies that have dragged our once proud nation into the mud.