Via email:
A move by Senate Democrats to refuse a vote on a GOP measure stating that Congress will not cut off funding for American troops serving in harm's way has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Even the New York Times took Senate Democrats to task this morning:"[T]he right way for the Senate to debate Iraq is to debate Iraq , not to bar proposals from the floor because they might be passed. The majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada , needs to call a timeout and regroup."
The question now is whether House Democrats will allow a vote on a bill by House Republicans aimed at protecting funding for America 's troops who are in a combat zone.
The House Republican bill (HR 511), authored by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), takes a stand against those who would cut off funding for our troops. Top Democrats have already short-changed American troops by reducing funds for critical war operations in their $463.5 billion spending bill. The package pushed to the House floor last week under-funded stability and reconstruction programs essential to improving the safety of our troops in Iraq by more than $650 million. And in this morning's issue of Roll Call, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) proposes going further:"Kucinich added that the funding is the bigger issue. 'The war is binding, the resolution is not," he said, "We've got to get out of there, Congress must cut off the funds.'"
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said in an interview yesterday "he hoped the GOP would be permitted to seek a vote" on Republican legislation supporting the President's new strategy and ensuring the Congress does not cut off or restrict funding for America's troops who are in a combat zone. Boehner also noted the stakes in the war in Iraq and the consequences of failure:"'If you're not for victory in Iraq, you're for failure,' Boehner said. 'The consequences of failure are immense. I think it destabilizes the entire Middle East, encourages Iran and on top of that it's pretty clear that the terrorists will just follow us home.'"
Members of Congress have a duty to go on record if they support cutting off funding for American troops, and the American people deserve to hear why.
