Senate Blocks Anti-War Bill = "cut off money for combat"

[L. Coyote]

Senate Blocks Anti-War Bill, Condemns Ad
By ANNE FLAHERTY
The Associated Press
Thursday, September 20, 2007; 4:59 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092000155.html


WASHINGTON -- The Senate blocked legislation Thursday that would have cut off money for combat in Iraq by June. It was a predictable defeat for Democrats struggling to pass less divisive anti-war measures.

The 28-70 vote was 32 short of the 60 needed to cut off a GOP filibuster. The legislation, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Russ Feingold, was indicative of the Democratic leadership's new hardline strategy.

Unable to attract enough Republican support on milder proposals, Reid has sought votes on strong anti-war measures intended to force a withdrawal of troops.

The outcome was not a surprise. In May, the Senate rejected a similar proposal by Reid and Feingold by a 29-67 vote, with Democrats who voted against it saying they did not support using money to force an end to the war because that approach could hurt the troops.

Voting for the measure were Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Barack Obama of Illinois and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. A fourth candidate, Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., did not vote.

Eighteen Democrats joined 51 Republicans ..........