Less than one week after promising Republicans the ability to offer an alternative during the Iraq debate, Democrats reversed course and refused to allow the House to vote on a Republican measure that would prohibit Congress from cutting off funds to the troops while they're in harm's way.UPDATE - AP News Alert:
Why wouldn't Democrats allow the GOP proposal to come to the floor? As the Associated Press reports, Democrats acknowledged they would lose the vote:"Given a chance, many Democrats in the House of Representatives might support a resolution committing Congress to continue paying for U.S. troops in Iraq. Afraid that might muddle their message opposing President George W. Bush's Iraq policy, party leaders are not giving their rank and file the opportunity.As statements by their leaders have already signaled, after their Iraq resolution passes Democrats will begin moving legislation to systematically cut off funding for America's troops. Today's Washington Post includes another such statement from yet another Democrat:
"As the House opens debate on a symbolic resolution to register opposition to Bush's troop buildup, Democrats are set to prevent Republicans from offering their own version. The fear is that a Republican alternative resolution could expose a potentially messy divide within Democratic ranks over whether to cut off or restrict payments for troops on the ground.""'It's only the bark,' Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) said of this week's resolution. 'The real bite comes with the spending bill.'"This resolution is the first step in the Democrats' plan to cut off funding for American troops who are in harm's way. If Democrats are serious about supporting our troops, they would allow Republicans to offer an alternative that ensures Congress never wavers in our commitment to fund the American men and women in uniform.
WASHINGTON (AP) The House has commenced an historic debate on future of the war in Iraq.Oh, to be at home watching this carnival on C-SPAN.....
UPDATE (12:50PM) - Via email:
This morning, House Republicans will use a parliamentary procedure to force a vote on whether the GOP can offer the proposal by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) to prohibit Congress from cutting off funding for American troops in harm's way. If allowed, Republicans will offer an amendment by Rep. Johnson that reads, in part:Democrats will NOT allow a vote on this amendment. At some point, somebody is going to have to question their patriotism..."Congress will not cut off or restrict funding for units and members of the Armed Forces that the Commander in Chief has deployed in harm's way in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom."The Dems' motion to "order the Previous Question" would prohibit Republicans from offering this critical amendment. House Republicans believe a vote on protecting funding for American troops fighting the Global War on Terror is a critical and necessary component of the debate.
