For once, the headline writers get it right:
Panel keeps Iraq timeline in budget plan
First, there was a vote on the timeline for withdrawal, up or down.
Members voted 37-27 along party lines to uphold a provision in a $124 billion war spending legislation that calls for troops to leave Iraq before September 2008, and possibly sooner if the Iraqi government does not meet certain benchmarks. Republicans had proposed stripping out the timetable.
37/37. That includes Blue Dogs like:
Marion Berry
Sanford Bishop
Allen Boyd
Ben Chandler
Bud Cramer
Steve Israel
Adam Schiff.
It also includes Out of Iraq caucus members:
Sam Farr
Chaka Fattah
Maurice Hinchey
Michael Honda
Marcy Kaptur
Caroyln Kilpatrick
Barbra Lee*
James Moran
John Olver
Lucille Roybald-Allard
Jose Serrano
And make no mistake about it: September 2008 is a hard deadline. Whether the Blue Dogs caved or became enlightened, they're on board now.
The vote for the supplemental was also nearly unanimous.
The Democratic-run committee then approved the overall spending measure by 36-28. Rep. Barbara Lee (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., a strong foe of the war, was the only lawmaker to switch sides in the vote, saying afterward, "I believe the American people sent a mandate to us to bring home our men and women before the end of the year."
There was another party-line vote:
Democrats said the timetable was necessary to force the Iraqis to step up, and by another 37-27 partyline vote pushed through a provision promising to "fully support the needs" of service members in combat.
Defunding, though, appears to be a dead issue for the time being:
Young proposed a separate amendment that would have restricted funding to steps needed to carry out a troop withdrawal. He said he would vote against it but was an issue that should be settled.
Sensing an effort to lure them into a vote that could be used against in re-election campaigns, Democrats opposed Young's proposal as well and it failed 64-0.
In summary, a good day for everyone but Republicans and those who insist that defunding is the only way to go.
Most importantly, it shows that House Democrats are united now--the Blue Dogs and Out of Iraq caucus are working towards the same goal--getting us out of Iraq.
Congratulations to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Committee Chairm David Obey John on theer strong leadership to make this happen.
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