Democrats' plan for Iraq timeline passes first test

[cal04]

Panel keeps Iraq timeline in budget plan

A Democratic plan to require the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq passed its first test on Thursday as the House Appropriations Committee voted to endorse the proposal, overcoming Republican opposition.

Members voted 37-27 along party lines to uphold a provision in a $124 billion war spending legislation that calls for troops to leave Iraq before September 2008, and possibly sooner if the Iraqi government does not meet certain benchmarks. Republicans had proposed stripping out the timetable.

The Democratic-run committee then approved the overall spending measure by 36-28. Rep. Barbara Lee (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., a strong foe of the war, was the only lawmaker to switch sides in the vote, saying afterward, "I believe the American people sent a mandate to us to bring home our men and women before the end of the year."

The votes gave Democrats a victory, if only for the moment, in their effort to challenge
President Bush's war policies and pressure him into starting a withdrawal of U.S. troops.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070315/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

[maddezmom]

1. I know not everyone is happy with this

and I'm in favor of defunding, but we have to start somewhere, right?

[cal04]

2. yes, we do

they are doing a great job on the Senate floor today
I hope they put some of Patty Murray's speech online
:hi:

[maddezmom]

3. bad news in the Senate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2768661

:(

[Ninja Jordan]

4. Senate rejected it.