New England Dems in Congress discuss cutting 'surge' funding

[TayTay]

OMG, we have some real news amid all the 08 speculation. How did that happen?

There is an article in the Dec 31st Lowell Sun that talks about the efforts by several New England Democrats in the US House and efforts by Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont to introduce amendments to cut off funding for troops in Iraq above a certain number. (The article specifically mentions not funding Iraq troop levels above 150,000. This is Sen. Leahy's proposal.)

Senator Leahy is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. (Sen. Kerry is not. Remember that.) These are the other members of that Committee:

CHAIR: Byrd, Inouye, Leahy, Harkin, Mikulski, Kohl, Murray, Dorgan, Feinstein, Durbin, Johnson, Landrieu, Reed, Lautenberg, Nelson (Ne)

This is who voted Yea on the Kerry Amendment S. 4442 on 6/22/06 to withdraw troops from Iraq according to a timetable. This is probably a good place to start finding Dem Senators who would agree with Sen. Leahy on an amendment to not fund a troop 'surge' or to escalate the war.

Akaka (D-HI), Boxer (D-CA), Durbin (D-IL), Feingold (D-WI), Harkin (D-IA), Inouye (D-HI), Jeffords (I-VT), Kennedy (D-MA), Kerry (D-MA), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Leahy (D-VT), Menendez (D-NJ), Wyden (D-OR)

Rep. Jim McGovern had a bill in the 109th (Weasel) Congress that proposed an end to funding for the War, except for the monies necessary to withdraw all troops. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.4232.IH: ) McGovern intends to re-introduce this bill in the 110th (Democratic) Congress. The original bill had 19 co-sponsors in the House and, of course, didn't go anywhere. It will be, needless to say, very interesting to see where it goes in the 110th Congress and who supports it.

The Iraq War is very unpopular in New England in particular. There is a great deal of support here for efforts to withdraw troops and reign Bush and his cronies in on what they are doing in the Middle East. This effort may end up splitting the Democratic Party on ideological and geographic lines this year and bears watching closely.

Here is the Lowell Sun article:

http://www.lowellsun.com/front/ci_4928919

Dems: Hold line on troops

Some reps hope to stem increase of troops in Iraq

By EVAN LEHMANN, Sun Washington Bureau
Article Last Updated: 12/31/2006 06:45:35 AM EST

WASHINGTON -- Fearing President Bush is poised to escalate the Iraq war, several New England Democrats said they will support spending restrictions to block a potential troop surge, or even leverage a withdrawal.

It is a challenging maneuver that could crosscut the promises of their incoming Democratic leaders to financially support the administration's war plan while simultaneously calling on the president to reduce the United States presence in Iraq.

Moreover, the attempts to design spending roadblocks are muddied by divisions within a Democratic Party leery two years before a presidential election of losing its new and narrow majority by appearing soft on terrorism and against the troops, lawmakers and analysts say.

Still, several New England lawmakers expressed frustration with reports that Bush might stream up to 30,000 troops into Iraq. The lawmakers said they would support attempts to employ congressional purse powers to block any move toward enlarging the U.S. footprint in a country descending toward civil war.

Ahm, blush, blush, I am very proud of the Northeast Dems for moving the argument, btw. blush, blush.

[Democrafty]

1. Yet another reason to love Patrick Leahy! n/t

[babylonsister]

2. Oh, my, I hope they do this, and I hope you post it in GD/P.

The Dems need to take a solid, united stand opposing the surge and this war; I don't think the country would take it as anti-soldier to cut the funding. The country voted to get us out of the war; this is a logical place to start. Plus, it does show some spine and shows the Dems won't be bullied.

[TayTay]

3. I did post it

in a slightly different version in GD. I didn't put it in GD P because it seemed more generally applicable to all Dem politics than the divisiveness of GD P.

[babylonsister]

4. Thanks, TayTay! Found it! nt

[ProSense]

5. Excellent.

Cut the funding for escalation---stop the madness in its tracks, and focus on getting out of Iraq.