House Renews Iraq Pullout Effort

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http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002547861.html

House Renews Iraq Pullout Effort
By Susan Ferrechio and John M. Donnelly, CQ Staff

In an effort to push the Senate into passing Iraq withdrawal legislation, the House this week will take up a similar bill that would set deadlines for troop redeployment.

House Democratic leaders made the move as new poll numbers show increasing public dissatisfaction with the war, and as Senate Democrats this week exert pressure on wavering Republicans to pass language in that chamber requiring a troop withdrawal by April 30.

“It will pass here,” a House Democratic leadership aide said, “and hopefully it will give momentum to the Senate.”

However, despite their growing misgivings about the war, most Senate Republicans indicated they would support President Bush’s appeal to wait until September before considering legislation to require troop withdrawals.

While some Republicans have signed on to amendments to the defense authorization bill (HR 1585, S 1547) that would redefine and reduce the military mission in Iraq, only a handful have embraced mandatory timelines.

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