Reply #4: These should come up for vote before the July 4 recess

[globalvillage]

I think Reid and the other Dems heard the reaction, and I don't believe we'll see anything like that last vote in this next round. The best thing we can do now is to contact the ones who need urging and have them get behind these proposals.

The four Democratic proposals are currently being written and are in varying stages of completion.

On timelines for withdrawal, the Senate will take up a version of language contained in the vetoed supplemental (HR 1591 — H Rept 110-107). It would require that the withdrawal begin in 120 days, save for a limited force to carry out missions such as training Iraqis, fighting terrorists and defending U.S. personnel and assets.

The legislation would set a goal of completing this withdrawal by a date certain. In the first supplemental, it was March 2008. But Carl Levin, D-Mich., the Armed Services chairman and an author of the provision, said that date could change.

The readiness provision, meanwhile, is being written by Jim Webb, D-Va., who was once secretary of the Navy. Webb said it would almost certainly require that U.S. forces stay home between deployments for at least as long as they are deployed. He added that he would probably include a waiver in the event of an “unexpected crisis.”

The proposal furthest from completion is the reauthorization of the war, Reid said. It is expected to echo a resolution that Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., discussed last month. It would require Bush to renew the war authorization before he could extend military operations beyond Oct. 11.

http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002530202.html