Democrats eager to defy Bush, add pullout date to funding bill

The measure cleared the House, but without the votes to override a veto. A similar Senate bill faces the same fate.

By Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times

Last update: November 14, 2007 - 10:17 PM

WASHINGTON - Nearly two months after Democrats suspended their legislative push to force a withdrawal from Iraq, House Democratic leaders restarted their campaign Wednesday with a measure to compel President Bush to bring troops home.

But with Republican resistance to congressional intervention in the war stronger than ever, there appears little chance this gambit will advance further than previous failed efforts.

On Wednesday evening, a $50 billion war-funding bill that would order the president to start withdrawing troops within 30 days and set a goal of completing the withdrawal by the end of next year passed, 218 to 203.

It attracted just four Republican votes, dozens short of what would be needed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to overcome a certain presidential veto. And in the Senate, many Democrats concede that they probably won't get close to the 60 votes necessary to end a promised filibuster, which effectively would kill the bill.

"They seem determined to keep bringing up resolutions that they know the president won't agree to," said Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, a moderate Republican who has urged Bush to adopt a new strategy in Iraq but has rejected all timelines. "We look pretty silly when we lecture Baghdad on being in political stalemate and insist on staying in one ourselves."

Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Dana Perino accused congressional Democrats of planning "to send the president a bill that they know he will veto."This is political posturing ... to appease radical groups," she said.

Democratic leaders countered that they have the broader public on their side. "Democrats are committed to bringing the American people what they deserve and demand," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "An end to President Bush's 10-year, trillion-dollar war."

The new showdown over Iraq war funding comes after a period of relative quiet in Congress , following the September demise of several Democratic efforts to alter the course of U.S. policy.

Measures to set withdrawal timelines, limit funding and mandate more rest for troops failed to attract enough GOP support to overcome Republican-led filibusters that were bolstered by an upbeat report by Army Gen. David Petraeus, the commander in Iraq.

The legislation, drawn up by Pelosi and her lieutenants, limits funding to $50 billion, enough to fund the wars for about another four months.

Like earlier measures, it imposes a date by which withdrawal must begin and sets a nonbinding "goal" -- Dec. 15, 2008 -- by which most troops should be out.

The measure would allow some U.S. forces to remain in Iraq to protect American personnel, provide limited support to Iraqi security forces and engage in targeted counter-terrorism operations.

And, in an effort to prohibit coercive interrogation techniques such as water-boarding, House Democrats added a provision that would require all detainees in U.S. custody to be interrogated under standards laid out in the Army Field Manual.

Democratic leaders see the new antiwar initiative as a way to further showcase their differences with the White House over domestic priorities such as health care, school aid and new road construction. Those initiatives, they argue, are being neglected as the price tag for the war grows.

But the new Democratic effort shows no signs of swaying Republican lawmakers. "I want to end this war as much as the next guy," said Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who was elected last year. "But I just don't see how we don't fund the troops."

Recent In Congress stories

Senate edges closer to health care debate - November 14, 2007

Senate edges closer to health care debate - In bid for 60 votes, Democrats pick up one wavering senator and need two more to secure a procedural vote to open debate. More