Senate passes defense authorization bill

[unhappycamper]

Senate passes defense authorization bill
By Anne Flaherty - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Oct 1, 2007 21:54:32 EDT

WASHINGTON — Thwarted in efforts to bring troops home from Iraq, Senate Democrats on Monday helped pass a defense policy bill authorizing another $150 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 92-3 vote comes as the House planned to approve separate legislation Tuesday that requires President Bush to give Congress a plan for eventual troop withdrawals.

The developments underscored the difficulty facing Democrats in the Iraq debate: They lack the votes to pass legislation ordering troops home and are divided on whether to cut money for combat, despite a mandate by supporters to end the war.

Hoping the political landscape changes in coming months, Democratic leaders say they will renew their fight when Congress considers the money Bush wants in war funding.

While the Senate policy bill authorizes the money to be spent, it does not guarantee it; Bush will have to wait until Congress passes a separate appropriations bill before war funds are transferred to military coffers.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_defensebillsenate_071001/



uhc comment: What ever happened to up-r-down voting? What happened to the Democratic party? :wtf: