Democrats On Cutting Off Funds For U.S. Troops

Via email:

EXACTLY TWO MONTHS AGO: MARCH 15, 2007

35 SENATE DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR THE GREGG RESOLUTION:

No “Elimination Or Reduction Of Funds For Troops In The Field”

“Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that Congress should not take any action that will endanger United States military forces in the field, including the elimination or reduction of funds for troops in the field, as such action with respect to funding would undermine their safety or harm their effectiveness in pursuing their assigned missions.” (S. CON. RES. 20, Roll Call Vote #77, Agreed to 82-16, R 47-1; D 34-13; I 1-1, 03/15/07)

TODAY: MAY 15, 2007

HOW MANY DEMOCRATS WILL VOTE FOR REID-FEINGOLD AMENDMENT TO CUT FUNDING?

“Prohibition On Use Of Funds”

“(c) Prohibition on Use of Funds- No funds appropriated or otherwise made available under any provision of law may be obligated or expended to continue the deployment in Iraq of members of the United States Armed Forces after March 31, 2008.” (S. 1077)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: DEMOCRATS ON CUTTING FUNDS

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “…I Don’t Think Anyone Can Find A War That This Country Was Engaged In Where The Funds Were Cut Off. No One Is Talking About Cutting Off The Funds.” (PBS’s “The Charlie Rose Show,” 03/05/07)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL): “I Don't Think That We Will See A Majority Of The Senate Vote To Cut Off Funding At This Stage… I Think That Nobody Wants To Play Chicken With Our Troops On The Ground.” (Mike Glover, “Obama Says Congress Will Fund Iraq War,” The Associated Press, 04/01/07)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY): “I Do Not Support Cutting Funding For American Troops.” (Tom Curry, “McCain, Clinton Clash Over Troop Morale,” MSNBC, 01/24/07)

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI): “We're Not Going To Cut Off Funding To The Troops … No One Wants To Do That.” (Glenn Kessler & Jonathan Weisman, “Bush Warns Democrats About Effects Of Troop Pullout From Iraq ,” The Washington Post, 01/10/07)

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D-CA): “I Don't Know Of Any Senator Who Would Cut Off Funds For Troops In The Field.” (Marc Sandalow, “Dems Ponder Methods To Thwart Bush On Troops, The San Francisco Chronicle, 01/10/07)

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): “I Don’t Think We Should Be Pulling Back Any Funds.” (Jeff Zeleny, “Democrats Split Over Iraq Approach,” The New York Times, 01/08/07)

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): “Yes, The Congress Could Cut Off The Funds. But The Congress Will Not Do That Because Our Men And Women Are In Harm’s Way.” (“Hardball,” MSNBC, 12/07/06)

SEN. BILL NELSON (D-FL): “Opposes Cutting Funds For Troops.” “U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson ( D-FL ) today made clear his intention to oppose measures he sees as possibly undermining U.S. troops, like cutting funds , but said he strongly supports a resolution against President Bush’s military buildup in Iraq .” (Sen. Nelson, “Nelson To Support Anti-Buildup Resolution, Opposes Cutting Funds For Troops,” Press Release, 01/18/07)