From The Hotline Latest Edition for Tuesday, May 6,2008

IRAQ

If At First You Don't Succeed ...

Tue. May 6, 2008


"Defying" Pres. Bush, House Dems "are preparing to forge ahead with a war spending measure that would include extended unemployment assistance and new educational benefits for returning veterans."

After a meeting of House Dem leaders last night, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped to bring a $178B measure to the floor "this week." And "what could be a contentious debate on the matter is likely to be held" on 5/8, aides said.

Pelosi "did not disclose details of the proposed bill," which will be presented to rank-and-file Dems at a closed session today. But Dem officials said the package "would include provisions requiring a significant withdrawal of troops" from Iraq by Dec. '09 "and measures that would force Iraq to share more costs of its reconstruction."

Dems "also intend to make veterans eligible for new educational assistance if they have served from three months to three years or more on active duty" since 9/11/01. The aid "would be equivalent to a four-year scholarship at a public university for those with three years or more service, with payments prorated for those with less time."

Bush "has steadily insisted he would not approve any legislation that exceeds his spending request for the war, sets any withdrawal deadlines or adds domestic money he opposes like the unemployment benefits." And House GOPers, "angry that the measure is not going through formal" cmte consideration, began on 5/5 "to open procedural attacks on the House floor in protest, forcing extra votes on noncontroversial measures" (Hulse, New York Times, 5/6).