Bush targets pullout measure in war bill

Source: Associated Press

Bush targets pullout measure in war bill By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
15 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - President Bush on Thursday again challenged Congress to pass his war spending bill without conditions. Democrats, believing they have a clear mandate from voters, were searching for votes to adopt their own plan.

"Congress needs to get their business done quickly, get the monies we've requested funded, and let our folks on the ground do the job," Bush said after meeting with leaders of joint civilian-military units headed soon to Iraq.

Democratic Party leaders are facing a caucus deeply divided on the issue and hold only a narrow majority in Congress. With their hands tied if just a few members stray, Democratic leaders are finding it tough to pass legislation that would require Bush to start bringing troops home.

House debate on an anti-war measure was expected to begin Thursday, with a vote the following day, while a Senate committee planned to vote Thursday on a similar measure.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

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Bush calls for quick, unrestricted Iraq funding 7 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Thursday urged lawmakers to approve his emergency spending request for Iraq in full and without restrictions on how it can be spent.

"Congress needs to get that bill out as quickly as possible, without a lot of extra spending and without a lot of strings to it," Bush said of the controversial 120 billion dollar measure for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

~snip~

The Congress owes you the money you need to do the job, without any strings attached," said the US president, whose popularity is at record lows in part because of the unpopular war.

"We don't want you to go into Iraq and then have unnecessary strings placed upon the money so you can't do your job," he said. "Congress needs to get their business done quickly, get the monies we've requested funded, and let our folks on the ground do the job."

Bush has warned that he will veto the legislation in its current form.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070322/ts_alt_afp/usiraqpoliticsbush_070322163240

Is it time to hold up the budget for the testimony?

The House and Senate Judiciary Committees readied plans today and Thursday to authorize the issuance of subpoenas for Rove and other officials. Bush said his staff would oppose the subpoenas, setting the stage for a possible constitutional confrontation in which past and current members of the White House staff could be held in contempt of Congress.

~snip~

Congress could vote to find whomever refused to comply in contempt, but the case normally would be prosecuted by the Justice Department, according to Beth Nolan, a White House counsel during the Clinton administration. Nolan said Congress also could choose to use other powers if an official refused to cooperate. These include withholding funding for an agency or refusing to approve administration nominees for executive positions that require Senate confirmation.

more:http://www.miamiherald.com/509/story/47865.html

Gonzales would have to recuse himself and a special prosecutor would have to be appointed. I think we all know the obvious pick?

HOUSE BILL:

July 1, 2007: Bush must certify Iraq is making significant progress in securing the country, sharing oil revenues equitably among all Iraqis and other political and military benchmarks. If Bush does not provide the certification, an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops must begin and be completed by December 2007.

Oct. 1, 2007: Bush must certify Iraq achieved the benchmarks. Otherwise, U.S. troops must begin withdrawing immediately and be out of Iraq by March 2008.

Sept. 1, 2008: If both of the above certifications were provided by Bush, U.S. forces would begin withdrawing by March 1, 2008 and would finish by Sept. 1, 2008.

SENATE BILL:

March 31, 2008: U.S. troops would begin to withdraw from Iraq no later than four months after enactment of legislation "with the goal" of finishing the withdrawal of combat troops by March 31, 2008.

Both bills would allow some American troops to remain in Iraq to help train Iraqi forces, to protect U.S. personnel and to conduct counterterrorism operations. But

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22364084.htm