American Troops & Taxpayers Score Victories in Supplemental Funding Bill

This just in...

Congressional Democrats began the 110th Congress with much fanfare, refusing to spend any money on our men and women in uniform in Iraq unless it was to bring them home after defeat, not victory. They demanded immediate withdrawal, politically-motivated war restrictions, and language calling for retreat. Yet the troop funding agreement announced yesterday – and spearheaded by House Republicans – will ensure that our men and women in uniform in both Iraq and Afghanistan will have all the resources they need well into the next Administration.

Moreover, the agreement also cuts billions in wasteful Washington spending sought by Senate Democrats and includes NO tax increases sought by House Democrats. The New York Times this morning highlights a statement by House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) on the troop funding bill:

“This bill is a real victory,” Mr. Boehner said. “It gets our troops the funding they need for success, without hamstringing our commanders in the field with politically motivated war restrictions. It provides new resources to help our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan get a better education, without raising taxes unnecessarily on the American people. It also does not include billions in unrelated wasteful Washington pork that was added by Senate Democrats.”

The agreement includes substantial victories for House Republicans, but most importantly, for our troops and veterans. Here’s a brief look at the victories scored by Republicans and the defeats endured by Democrats:

Provides Troop Funding for FY 2008-2009. The agreement ensures that our men and women in uniform will have the resources they need well into the next Administration, rejecting demands from Democrats to stop funding our troops who continue to make significant progress in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Eliminates ALL War Restrictions. The agreement gets our troops the funding they need for success without any politically-motivated restrictions that the Democratic Majority pushed for in order to hamstring our commanders in the field.

Includes NO Tax Increases. The agreement includes no tax increases of any kind sought by House Democrats, especially those from the Blue Dog Coalition, which seeks tax hikes as the silver bullet solution for every problem.

Provides New Resources for American Veterans. The agreement will help our veterans (or their families) get a better education after they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Maintains Work Requirements for Unemployment Insurance. At GOP insistence, the agreement protects taxpayers by maintaining the 20-week work requirement in order for a worker to receive extended unemployment benefits. The agreement also limits the extension of benefits to 13 additional weeks, not the 26 weeks in the original Democratic bill.

Cuts Wasteful Pork. The agreement cuts $8 billion in wasteful Washington spending added by Senate Democrats.

Rejects Funding for Planned Parenthood. The agreement eliminates funding sought by Democrats for Planned Parenthood.

Ensures SCHIP Serves Low-Income Children First. The agreement eliminates a Senate Democrat-authored provision designed to overturn Administration efforts to ensure that SCHIP serves the neediest children first.

This does look like a really good bill... Makes me wonder what we had to give up in order to get it...