War Debate Heats Up in the House
Eleven House Republicans split from their party Wednesday to oppose escalating the Iraq war, and an anonymous GOP representative said the leadership has 50 to 60 more on a defection watch list. The minority hopes to get its revenge when it comes time to debate funding for the war, but the Democrats have a plan for the showdown, which John Murtha unveiled on Thursday.
Washington Post:
Quote:
Republicans think the funding debate will unite their party and expose deep fissures among the Democrats, some of whom want immediate action to deny funding to the war effort. But Democratic leaders have rallied around a strategy that would fully fund the president’s $100 billion request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but would limit his ability to use the money.
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, will formally outline the Democrats’ plan today to antiwar groups agitating for binding action against the war. Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), a subcommittee member who helped arrange the Internet event, said the plan is aimed at tamping down calls from the Democrats’ liberal wing for Congress to simply end funding for the war.
READ MORE AT THE LINK.
(Thanks, Ben!)
