Iraq + Afghanistan = $1.5 TRILLION

[Makkonnen]

Hidden costs 'raise US war price'




The US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing nearly double the amount previously thought, according to a report set to be released by Congress.

Democrats say the wars have cost $1.5 trillion - almost twice the requested $804bn (£402bn) - because of "hidden costs", the Washington Post reports.

That figure would amount to $20,000 for an average US family of four, it adds.

And some of the figures cited in the report were labelled speculative by funding experts, the Post says.

Among the indicators contributing to the higher cost of the conflicts are higher oil costs and payments to war veterans.

'Lost earnings'

The report is expected to be presented to Congress later on Tuesday.

The Democratic authors included the costs of treating wounded veterans and mounting interest payments on money borrowed to finance the wars.

The report calculates that the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost the average US family of four more than $20,000.

It adds that the amount could rise to $46,300 over the next decade, the Washington Post says.

The committee's Democrats estimate that treating veterans could add more than $30bn to war costs, including disability payments and lost earnings for veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder.

Republicans have not yet commented officially on the report.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7092053.stm

 

[thoughtone]

I thought conservatism meant fiscal conservatism. And the Democratic congress continues to gives Bush a blank check.

 

[QueEx]

Damn. I was afraid to open this thread. I was hoping you meant how many miles the troops had recorded traveling in the air and on the ground in those two countries.

Somehow though, I knew it would be $$$

QueEx

 

[Makkonnen]

Damn. I was afraid to open this thread. I was hoping you meant how many miles the troops had recorded traveling in the air and on the ground in those two countries.

Somehow though, I knew it would be $$$

QueEx

But its money well spent since we all feel so much safer and better.

Iraq & Afghan War = $1,500,000,000,000

Living in a perfect safe world = Priceless

 

[gene cisco]

But its money well spent since we all feel so much safer and better.

Iraq & Afghan War = $1,500,000,000,000

Living in a perfect safe world = Priceless

Do we still have my posts from 01' about the bullshit war in afghan????



6 years later america is still there and the taliban is still kicking and nothing is done. And I didnt even know in 01' that the bullshit in iraq would pop off, but when I did I called that one also.

Sad to see so many lives and money wasted.

Question, who the fuck gets the 1.5 trillion............................................................

Bet its alot of american corps and "donors".

Little did I know after all this folks still would sign up for this shit.

1.5 trill and they still can't fix our bridges, education system or shit else. Not to mention our healthcare is shit.

 

[actinanass]

I thought conservatism meant fiscal conservatism. And the Democratic congress continues to gives Bush a blank check.

You didn't read the fine print.

Conservatism is fiscal responsible until a war breaks out.

 

[nyyyyce]

don"t forget the "MISSING" 9 billion from the Fed to Iraqi banks... (though it is not part of the actual cost of the war).

 

[BRUCE LEROY]

If I'm not mistaking, WWII cost only $3 trillion in today's dollars...and that was with 16 million men in uniform and fighting on 3 continents. How come sh#t is costing so much now?

 

[GET YOU HOT]

This may explain some of the trillions...
http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,150759,00.html

 

[LennyNero1972]

This may explain some of the trillions...
http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,150759,00.html

You by any chance see the movie Lord Of War?

 

[GET YOU HOT]

^^I'll tell you later...

"Aid" to worthless Pakistan tops $10 Billion Dollars, money we could have used in the United States to fortify our military and boarders...Now this fool in Washington is sending an envoy to warn that gedoosh...

 

[Dr. Truth]

Imagine if we used 1.3 Trillion on our own people here. We'd be ridiculously powerful, not to mention it would generate 10 times as much in return. I swear I hate politics and the way shit is done.

 

[Makkonnen]

Imagine if we used 1.3 Trillion on our own people here. We'd be ridiculously powerful, not to mention it would generate 10 times as much in return. I swear I hate politics and the way shit is done.

The people that run this country dont want our nation ridiculously powerful. They want a broke, ignorant and subdued nation that they can control. They also want there to be enough ways for smarter people to rise above the lowest and poorest classes to stock their science and leadership positions.

Good to see you posting on this side

 

[nyyyyce]

The people that run this country dont want our nation ridiculously powerful. They want a broke, ignorant and subdued nation that they can control. They also want there to be enough ways for smarter people to rise above the lowest and poorest classes to stock their science and leadership positions.

Good to see you posting on this side

WHAT THEY^^^^^ BOTH SAID.

 

[GreedySmurf]

Blank Check for Afghanistan Passes, Iraq Funds to Come

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Blank Check for Afghanistan Passes, Iraq Funds to Come
By Maya Schenwar
t r u t h o u t | Report [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Tuesday 18 December 2007[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Under a cloud of frustration, the House of Representatives passed an omnibus spending bill on Monday night that contains $31 billion for the war in Afghanistan, with the expectation Iraq war funding will be added in the Senate. Additionally, the bill submits to most of the president's requests on domestic spending.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Unlike the $50 billion Democratic war funding bill proposed in November, which was defeated in the Senate, the new bill contains no provisions for a troop withdrawal.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the bill is expected to pass the Senate by Tuesday night. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week he would amend the bill to raise war funding - for both Iraq and Afghanistan - to $70 billion once the omnibus bill reached the Senate floor. Reports last week indicated that leading Democrats in the Senate would concede to increases in Iraq funding.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Reid's spokesman declined to comment on Iraq funds in the final bill.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey made no secret of the omnibus bill's shortcomings when he unveiled it on Sunday, declaring that Democrats must wait for a new administration to take office before many of its priorities can be accomplished.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] "We have arrived at this point because the White House and their allies in the Senate have refused to respond to the American people's cry for change in the last election," he said in a statement released on Sunday. "America needs a President who will not have as his only priority asking Congress for more and more money in Iraq at the expense of our society here at home."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] In Obey's closing statement on the floor Monday night, he called his bill's domestic appropriations "totally inadequate," especially considering the size of the president's suggested war budget, but emphasized drastic cuts were necessary in order to ensure passage.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Although Bush originally demanded Congress provide the entire $200 billion in war funds he requested in October, last week he said he'd sign a bill for a "down payment," indicating that, if the Senate and House accept McConnell's Iraq amendment, Congress will stand a good chance of going home at the end of this week with the 2008 spending bills passed.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] "It's clear, based on Congress's actions, that they believe it's better for the country and their agenda to get the budget passed," said National Priorities Project Communications Director Pam Schwartz, noting that the omnibus bill boosts funding for medical research, health care access and Head Start programs. "At all costs, they want to get the business done. But to do that, they are trading in some pretty basic priorities."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Any restriction-free funding aimed at Iraq would face stiff opposition in the House, according to a spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said the Speaker plans to vote against the amendment. Last week, the leaders of the Progressive Caucus released a letter stating that they would oppose any Iraq funds tied to the omnibus bill if the legislation does not include a timetable for troop withdrawal.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] In a prelude to the full war funding vote, 13 Progressive Caucus members voted against the Afghanistan supplemental, a much less controversial piece of legislation, last night.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] "The House continues to fund a fruitless war in Afghanistan," said Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who voted "nay," in a statement. "Just as we must get out of Iraq, we must leave Afghanistan as well."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Grassroots activists around the country are putting pressure on their Congress members to vote down the Iraq-inclusive bill in the Senate. Hundreds of antiwar groups have been staging call-in campaigns on Iraq and Afghanistan funding over the past few weeks, according to Carolyn Eisenberg, co-chair of the Legislative Working Group of United for Peace and Justice.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] "Most probably, the Senate is going to put in this $70 billion," Eisenberg said. "What's not clear is whether the House will pass it. Progressives are fighting back on this one. If they weren't fighting back, Iraq funding would've passed already."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Even if the $70 billion amendment does not pass, some of the House plan's $31 billion for Afghanistan will be available for Iraq, as long as it is used for body armor or "force protection items."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] This exception might provide a "big loophole," said OMB Watch policy analyst Matt Lewis. "It seems like 'force protection' could mean pretty much anything."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] The president's past actions show that once defense funds have been appropriated, he is prepared to ignore restrictions on their usage. After the 2008 Defense Appropriations Act, which forbade the use of general defense funds for the "Global War on Terror," President Bush released a signing statement announcing he would disregard the ban.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Regardless of the outcome of this week's omnibus bill, it won't be the end of the drive to finance the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush's reference to the bill as a "down payment" indicates he expects another infusion of funds in the next few months. At the rate the war is going, the omnibus bill's supplemental could last until late spring, according to Lewis, considering there is still funding available for war in the baseline defense budget. At that point, Congress would vote on another supplemental bill, which, Lewis estimates, will probably total around $100 billion.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Moreover, the omnibus bill comes a month and a half before the administration reveals its estimate on how much the wars will cost in the next fiscal year: the FY 2009 budget will be introduced the first Monday in February.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Judging by the Democrats' funding concessions over the past week, the president and Republicans in Congress will probably request similar amounts of funding - with no withdrawal deadlines - in future war supplemental requests, according to Schwartz.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] "Based on what Congress has agreed to, the president will be emboldened to continue on his current trajectory, cutting domestic spending and increasing war funds," Schwartz said. "The $70 billion is just the beginning of that."[/FONT][/FONT]


http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121807J.shtml

 

[GreedySmurf]

Re: Blank Check for Afghanistan Passes, Iraq Funds to Come

House Roll Call: Afghanistan Funding
The Associated Press

Monday 17 December 2007

The 206-201 roll call Monday by which the House passed an amendment to the budget bill adding $31 billion for troops in Afghanistan.

A "yes" vote is a vote to pass the amendment.

Voting yes were 201 Democrats and 5 Republicans.

Voting no were 18 Democrats and 183 Republicans.

X denotes those not voting.

Present denotes those who voted they were "present" at the time of the vote but did not vote yes or no on the issue.

There are 2 vacancies in the 435-member House.

ALABAMA

Democrats - Cramer, Y; Davis, Y.

Republicans - Aderholt, N; Bachus, N; Bonner, N; Everett, N; Rogers, N.

ALASKA

Republicans - Young, N.

ARIZONA

Democrats - Giffords, Y; Grijalva, N; Mitchell, Y; Pastor, X.

Republicans - Flake, N; Franks, N; Renzi, Y; Shadegg, N.

ARKANSAS

Democrats - Berry, Y; Ross, Y; Snyder, Y.

Republicans - Boozman, N.

CALIFORNIA

Democrats - Baca, Y; Becerra, Y; Berman, Y; Capps, Y; Cardoza, Y; Costa, Y; Davis, Y; Eshoo, Y; Farr, Y; Filner, N; Harman, Y; Honda, Y; Lantos, Y; Lee, N; Lofgren, Zoe, Y; Matsui, Y; McNerney, Y; Miller, George, N; Napolitano, Y; Pelosi, X (the speaker by tradition often does not vote); Richardson, Y; Roybal-Allard, Y; Sanchez, Linda T., Y; Sanchez, Loretta, Y; Schiff, Y; Sherman, Y; Solis, Y; Stark, N; Tauscher, Y; Thompson, X; Waters, N; Watson, Y; Waxman, Y; Woolsey, X.

Republicans - Bilbray, N; Bono, N; Calvert, N; Campbell, N; Doolittle, N; Dreier, N; Gallegly, X; Herger, N; Hunter, X; Issa, N; Lewis, N; Lungren, Daniel E., N; McCarthy, N; McKeon, N; Miller, Gary, X; Nunes, N; Radanovich, N; Rohrabacher, X; Royce, N.

COLORADO

Democrats - DeGette, Y; Perlmutter, Y; Salazar, Y; Udall, Y.

Republicans - Lamborn, N; Musgrave, N; Tancredo, N.

CONNECTICUT

Democrats - Courtney, Y; DeLauro, Y; Larson, Y; Murphy, Y.

Republicans - Shays, Y.

DELAWARE

Republicans - Castle, N.

FLORIDA

Democrats - Boyd, Y; Brown, Corrine, Y; Castor, Y; Hastings, X; Klein, Y; Mahoney, Y; Meek, Y; Wasserman Schultz, Y; Wexler, X.

Republicans - Bilirakis, N; Brown-Waite, Ginny, N; Buchanan, N; Crenshaw, N; Diaz-Balart, L., N; Diaz-Balart, M., N; Feeney, N; Keller, N; Mack, N; Mica, N; Miller, N; Putnam, N; Ros-Lehtinen, N; Stearns, N; Weldon, N; Young, N.

GEORGIA

Democrats - Barrow, Y; Bishop, Y; Johnson, Y; Lewis, N; Marshall, Y; Scott, Y.

Republicans - Broun, N; Deal, N; Gingrey, N; Kingston, N; Linder, N; Price, N; Westmoreland, N.

HAWAII

Democrats - Abercrombie, Y; Hirono, Y.

IDAHO

Republicans - Sali, N; Simpson, N.

ILLINOIS

Democrats - Bean, Y; Costello, Y; Davis, Y; Emanuel, Y; Gutierrez, X; Hare, Y; Jackson, Y; Lipinski, Y; Rush, Y; Schakowsky, Y.

Republicans - Biggert, N; Johnson, Y; Kirk, N; LaHood, Y; Manzullo, N; Roskam, N; Shimkus, N; Weller, X.

INDIANA

Democrats - Donnelly, Y; Ellsworth, Y; Hill, Y; Visclosky, Y.

Republicans - Burton, N; Buyer, N; Pence, N; Souder, N.

IOWA

Democrats - Boswell, Y; Braley, Y; Loebsack, Y.

Republicans - King, N; Latham, N.

KANSAS

Democrats - Boyda, Y; Moore, Y.

Republicans - Moran, N; Tiahrt, N.

KENTUCKY

Democrats - Chandler, Y; Yarmuth, Y.

Republicans - Davis, N; Lewis, N; Rogers, N; Whitfield, N.

LOUISIANA

Democrats - Jefferson, Y; Melancon, Y.

Republicans - Alexander, N; Baker, N; Boustany, N; Jindal, X; McCrery, N.

MAINE

Democrats - Allen, Y; Michaud, Y.

MARYLAND

Democrats - Cummings, Y; Hoyer, Y; Ruppersberger, Y; Sarbanes, Y; Van Hollen, Y; Wynn, Y.

Republicans - Bartlett, N; Gilchrest, X.

MASSACHUSETTS

Democrats - Capuano, Y; Delahunt, Y; Frank, Y; Lynch, Y; Markey, Y; McGovern, Y; Neal, Y; Olver, Y; Tierney, Y; Tsongas, Y.

MICHIGAN

Democrats - Conyers, Y; Dingell, Y; Kildee, Y; Kilpatrick, N; Levin, Y; Stupak, Y.

Republicans - Camp, N; Ehlers, N; Hoekstra, N; Knollenberg, N; McCotter, N; Miller, N; Rogers, N; Upton, N; Walberg, N.

MINNESOTA

Democrats - Ellison, Y; McCollum, Y; Oberstar, Y; Peterson, Y; Walz, Y.

Republicans - Bachmann, N; Kline, N; Ramstad, N.

MISSISSIPPI

Democrats - Taylor, Y; Thompson, Y.

Republicans - Pickering, N; Wicker, N.

MISSOURI

Democrats - Carnahan, Y; Clay, Y; Cleaver, Y; Skelton, Y.

Republicans - Akin, N; Blunt, N; Emerson, N; Graves, N; Hulshof, N.

MONTANA

Republicans - Rehberg, N.

NEBRASKA

Republicans - Fortenberry, N; Smith, N; Terry, N.

NEVADA

Democrats - Berkley, Y.

Republicans - Heller, N; Porter, N.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Democrats - Hodes, Y; Shea-Porter, Y.

NEW JERSEY

Democrats - Andrews, Y; Holt, Y; Pallone, Y; Pascrell, Y; Payne, Y; Rothman, Y; Sires, Y.

Republicans - Ferguson, N; Frelinghuysen, N; Garrett, N; LoBiondo, N; Saxton, N; Smith, Y.

NEW MEXICO

Democrats - Udall, Y.

Republicans - Pearce, N; Wilson, N.

NEW YORK

Democrats - Ackerman, Y; Arcuri, Y; Bishop, Y; Clarke, Y; Crowley, Y; Engel, Y; Gillibrand, Y; Hall, Y; Higgins, Y; Hinchey, Y; Israel, Y; Lowey, Y; Maloney, Y; McCarthy, Y; McNulty, N; Meeks, Y; Nadler, Y; Rangel, N; Serrano, X; Slaughter, Y; Towns, Y; Velazquez, X; Weiner, Y.

Republicans - Fossella, N; King, N; Kuhl, N; McHugh, N; Reynolds, N; Walsh, N.

NORTH CAROLINA

Democrats - Butterfield, Y; Etheridge, Y; McIntyre, Y; Miller, Y; Price, Y; Shuler, Y; Watt, Y.

Republicans - Coble, N; Foxx, N; Hayes, N; Jones, N; McHenry, X; Myrick, N.

NORTH DAKOTA

Democrats - Pomeroy, Y.

OHIO

Democrats - Jones, N; Kaptur, Y; Kucinich, N; Ryan, Y; Space, Y; Sutton, Y; Wilson, Y.

Republicans - Boehner, N; Chabot, N; Hobson, X; Jordan, N; LaTourette, N; Latta, N; Pryce, X; Regula, N; Schmidt, N; Tiberi, N; Turner, N.

OKLAHOMA

Democrats - Boren, Y.

Republicans - Cole, N; Fallin, N; Lucas, N; Sullivan, N.

OREGON

Democrats - Blumenauer, X; DeFazio, Y; Hooley, X; Wu, Y.

Republicans - Walden, N.

PENNSYLVANIA

Democrats - Altmire, Y; Brady, Y; Carney, Y; Doyle, Y; Fattah, Y; Holden, Y; Kanjorski, Y; Murphy, Patrick, Y; Murtha, Y; Schwartz, Y; Sestak, Y.

Republicans - Dent, N; English, N; Gerlach, N; Murphy, Tim, N; Peterson, N; Pitts, N; Platts, N; Shuster, N.

RHODE ISLAND

Democrats - Kennedy, Y; Langevin, Y.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Democrats - Clyburn, Y; Spratt, Y.

Republicans - Barrett, N; Brown, N; Inglis, N; Wilson, N.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Democrats - Herseth Sandlin, Y.

TENNESSEE

Democrats - Cohen, Y; Cooper, Y; Davis, Lincoln, N; Gordon, Y; Tanner, N.

Republicans - Blackburn, N; Davis, David, N; Duncan, N; Wamp, N.

TEXAS

Democrats - Cuellar, Y; Doggett, Y; Edwards, Y; Gonzalez, Y; Green, Al, Y; Green, Gene, Y; Hinojosa, Y; Jackson-Lee, Y; Johnson, E. B., X; Lampson, N; Ortiz, X; Reyes, Y; Rodriguez, Y.

Republicans - Barton, N; Brady, N; Burgess, N; Carter, N; Conaway, N; Culberson, N; Gohmert, N; Granger, N; Hall, X; Hensarling, N; Johnson, Sam, N; Marchant, N; McCaul, N; Neugebauer, N; Paul, X; Poe, N; Sessions, N; Smith, N; Thornberry, N.

UTAH

Democrats - Matheson, Y.

Republicans - Bishop, N; Cannon, N.

VERMONT

Democrats - Welch, N.

VIRGINIA

Democrats - Boucher, Y; Moran, Y; Scott, Y.

Republicans - Cantor, N; Davis, Tom, N; Drake, N; Forbes, N; Goode, N; Goodlatte, N; Wittman, N; Wolf, N.

WASHINGTON

Democrats - Baird, N; Dicks, Y; Inslee, Y; Larsen, Y; McDermott, N; Smith, Y.

Republicans - Hastings, N; McMorris Rodgers, N; Reichert, N.

WEST VIRGINIA

Democrats - Mollohan, Y; Rahall, Y.

Republicans - Capito, N.

WISCONSIN

Democrats - Baldwin, Y; Kagen, Y; Kind, Y; Moore, Y; Obey, Y.

Republicans - Petri, N; Ryan, N; Sensenbrenner, N.

WYOMING

Republicans - Cubin, X.


----------------------------------------------------------------

House Roll Call: Omnibus Budget Bill
The Associated Press

Monday 17 December 2007

The 253-154 roll call Monday by which the House approved an omnibus budget measure funding 14 Cabinet agencies.

A "yes" vote is a vote to pass the bill.

Voting yes were 212 Democrats and 41 Republicans.

Voting no were 8 Democrats and 146 Republicans.

X denotes those not voting.

Present denotes those who voted they were "present" at the time of the vote but did not vote yes or no on the issue.

There are 2 vacancies in the 435-member House.

ALABAMA

Democrats - Cramer, Y; Davis, Y.

Republicans - Aderholt, N; Bachus, N; Bonner, N; Everett, N; Rogers, N.

ALASKA

Republicans - Young, Y.

ARIZONA

Democrats - Giffords, Y; Grijalva, Y; Mitchell, Y; Pastor, X.

Republicans - Flake, N; Franks, N; Renzi, Y; Shadegg, N.

ARKANSAS

Democrats - Berry, Y; Ross, Y; Snyder, Y.

Republicans - Boozman, N.

CALIFORNIA

Democrats - Baca, Y; Becerra, Y; Berman, Y; Capps, Y; Cardoza, Y; Costa, Y; Davis, Y; Eshoo, Y; Farr, Y; Filner, Y; Harman, Y; Honda, Y; Lantos, Y; Lee, Y; Lofgren, Zoe, Y; Matsui, Y; McNerney, Y; Miller, George, Y; Napolitano, Y; Pelosi, X (the speaker by tradition often does not vote); Richardson, Y; Roybal-Allard, Y; Sanchez, Linda T., Y; Sanchez, Loretta, Y; Schiff, Y; Sherman, Y; Solis, Y; Stark, N; Tauscher, Y; Thompson, X; Waters, Y; Watson, Y; Waxman, Y; Woolsey, X.

Republicans - Bilbray, N; Bono, N; Calvert, N; Campbell, N; Doolittle, N; Dreier, N; Gallegly, X; Herger, N; Hunter, X; Issa, N; Lewis, N; Lungren, Daniel E., N; McCarthy, N; McKeon, N; Miller, Gary, X; Nunes, N; Radanovich, N; Rohrabacher, X; Royce, N.

COLORADO

Democrats - DeGette, Y; Perlmutter, Y; Salazar, Y; Udall, Y.

Republicans - Lamborn, N; Musgrave, N; Tancredo, N.

CONNECTICUT

Democrats - Courtney, Y; DeLauro, Y; Larson, Y; Murphy, Y.

Republicans - Shays, Y.

DELAWARE

Republicans - Castle, Y.

FLORIDA

Democrats - Boyd, Y; Brown, Corrine, Y; Castor, Y; Hastings, X; Klein, Y; Mahoney, Y; Meek, Y; Wasserman Schultz, Y; Wexler, X.

Republicans - Bilirakis, Y; Brown-Waite, Ginny, Y; Buchanan, N; Crenshaw, N; Diaz-Balart, L., Y; Diaz-Balart, M., Y; Feeney, N; Keller, N; Mack, N; Mica, N; Miller, N; Putnam, N; Ros-Lehtinen, Y; Stearns, N; Weldon, N; Young, Y.

GEORGIA

Democrats - Barrow, Y; Bishop, Y; Johnson, Y; Lewis, Y; Marshall, N; Scott, Y.

Republicans - Broun, N; Deal, N; Gingrey, N; Kingston, N; Linder, N; Price, N; Westmoreland, N.

HAWAII

Democrats - Abercrombie, Y; Hirono, Y.

IDAHO

Republicans - Sali, N; Simpson, Y.

ILLINOIS

Democrats - Bean, Y; Costello, Y; Davis, Y; Emanuel, Y; Gutierrez, X; Hare, Y; Jackson, Y; Lipinski, Y; Rush, Y; Schakowsky, Y.

Republicans - Biggert, N; Johnson, N; Kirk, Y; LaHood, Y; Manzullo, N; Roskam, N; Shimkus, N; Weller, X.

INDIANA

Democrats - Donnelly, Y; Ellsworth, Y; Hill, Y; Visclosky, Y.

Republicans - Burton, N; Buyer, N; Pence, N; Souder, N.

IOWA

Democrats - Boswell, Y; Braley, Y; Loebsack, Y.

Republicans - King, N; Latham, Y.

KANSAS

Democrats - Boyda, Y; Moore, Y.

Republicans - Moran, N; Tiahrt, N.

KENTUCKY

Democrats - Chandler, Y; Yarmuth, Y.

Republicans - Davis, N; Lewis, N; Rogers, N; Whitfield, N.

LOUISIANA

Democrats - Jefferson, Y; Melancon, Y.

Republicans - Alexander, N; Baker, N; Boustany, N; Jindal, X; McCrery, N.

MAINE

Democrats - Allen, Y; Michaud, Y.

MARYLAND

Democrats - Cummings, Y; Hoyer, Y; Ruppersberger, Y; Sarbanes, Y; Van Hollen, Y; Wynn, Y.

Republicans - Bartlett, N; Gilchrest, X.

MASSACHUSETTS

Democrats - Capuano, Y; Delahunt, Y; Frank, Y; Lynch, Y; Markey, N; McGovern, Y; Neal, Y; Olver, Y; Tierney, Y; Tsongas, Y.

MICHIGAN

Democrats - Conyers, Y; Dingell, Y; Kildee, Y; Kilpatrick, Y; Levin, Y; Stupak, Y.

Republicans - Camp, N; Ehlers, N; Hoekstra, N; Knollenberg, Y; McCotter, N; Miller, Y; Rogers, N; Upton, Y; Walberg, N.

MINNESOTA

Democrats - Ellison, Y; McCollum, Y; Oberstar, Y; Peterson, Y; Walz, Y.

Republicans - Bachmann, N; Kline, N; Ramstad, Y.

MISSISSIPPI

Democrats - Taylor, N; Thompson, Y.

Republicans - Pickering, Y; Wicker, N.

MISSOURI

Democrats - Carnahan, Y; Clay, Y; Cleaver, Y; Skelton, Y.

Republicans - Akin, N; Blunt, N; Emerson, Y; Graves, Y; Hulshof, Y.

MONTANA

Republicans - Rehberg, N.

NEBRASKA

Republicans - Fortenberry, N; Smith, N; Terry, N.

NEVADA

Democrats - Berkley, Y.

Republicans - Heller, N; Porter, Y.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Democrats - Hodes, Y; Shea-Porter, Y.

NEW JERSEY

Democrats - Andrews, Y; Holt, Y; Pallone, Y; Pascrell, Y; Payne, Y; Rothman, Y; Sires, Y.

Republicans - Ferguson, N; Frelinghuysen, N; Garrett, N; LoBiondo, Y; Saxton, N; Smith, Y.

NEW MEXICO

Democrats - Udall, Y.

Republicans - Pearce, N; Wilson, N.

NEW YORK

Democrats - Ackerman, Y; Arcuri, Y; Bishop, Y; Clarke, Y; Crowley, Y; Engel, Y; Gillibrand, Y; Hall, Y; Higgins, Y; Hinchey, Y; Israel, Y; Lowey, Y; Maloney, Y; McCarthy, Y; McNulty, Y; Meeks, Y; Nadler, Y; Rangel, Y; Serrano, Y; Slaughter, Y; Towns, Y; Velazquez, Y; Weiner, Y.

Republicans - Fossella, Y; King, Y; Kuhl, Y; McHugh, Y; Reynolds, Y; Walsh, Y.

NORTH CAROLINA

Democrats - Butterfield, Y; Etheridge, Y; McIntyre, Y; Miller, Y; Price, Y; Shuler, Y; Watt, Y.

Republicans - Coble, N; Foxx, N; Hayes, Y; Jones, N; McHenry, X; Myrick, N.

NORTH DAKOTA

Democrats - Pomeroy, Y.

OHIO

Democrats - Jones, Y; Kaptur, Y; Kucinich, N; Ryan, Y; Space, Y; Sutton, Y; Wilson, Y.

Republicans - Boehner, N; Chabot, N; Hobson, X; Jordan, N; LaTourette, Y; Latta, N; Pryce, X; Regula, N; Schmidt, N; Tiberi, N; Turner, Y.

OKLAHOMA

Democrats - Boren, Y.

Republicans - Cole, N; Fallin, N; Lucas, N; Sullivan, N.

OREGON

Democrats - Blumenauer, X; DeFazio, Y; Hooley, X; Wu, Y.

Republicans - Walden, N.

PENNSYLVANIA

Democrats - Altmire, Y; Brady, Y; Carney, Y; Doyle, Y; Fattah, Y; Holden, Y; Kanjorski, Y; Murphy, Patrick, Y; Murtha, Y; Schwartz, Y; Sestak, Y.

Republicans - Dent, Y; English, N; Gerlach, Y; Murphy, Tim, Y; Peterson, N; Pitts, N; Platts, N; Shuster, N.

RHODE ISLAND

Democrats - Kennedy, Y; Langevin, Y.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Democrats - Clyburn, Y; Spratt, Y.

Republicans - Barrett, N; Brown, N; Inglis, N; Wilson, N.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Democrats - Herseth Sandlin, Y.

TENNESSEE

Democrats - Cohen, Y; Cooper, Y; Davis, Lincoln, Y; Gordon, Y; Tanner, Y.

Republicans - Blackburn, N; Davis, David, N; Duncan, N; Wamp, N.

TEXAS

Democrats - Cuellar, Y; Doggett, N; Edwards, Y; Gonzalez, Y; Green, Al, Y; Green, Gene, Y; Hinojosa, Y; Jackson-Lee, Y; Johnson, E. B., X; Lampson, Y; Ortiz, X; Reyes, Y; Rodriguez, Y.

Republicans - Barton, N; Brady, N; Burgess, N; Carter, N; Conaway, N; Culberson, N; Gohmert, N; Granger, N; Hall, X; Hensarling, N; Johnson, Sam, N; Marchant, N; McCaul, N; Neugebauer, N; Paul, X; Poe, N; Sessions, N; Smith, N; Thornberry, N.

UTAH

Democrats - Matheson, N.

Republicans - Bishop, N; Cannon, N.

VERMONT

Democrats - Welch, Y.

VIRGINIA

Democrats - Boucher, Y; Moran, Y; Scott, Y.

Republicans - Cantor, N; Davis, Tom, Y; Drake, N; Forbes, N; Goode, N; Goodlatte, N; Wittman, X; Wolf, Y.

WASHINGTON

Democrats - Baird, Present; Dicks, Y; Inslee, N; Larsen, Y; McDermott, Y; Smith, Y.

Republicans - Hastings, N; McMorris Rodgers, N; Reichert, Y.

WEST VIRGINIA

Democrats - Mollohan, Y; Rahall, Y.

Republicans - Capito, Y.

WISCONSIN

Democrats - Baldwin, Y; Kagen, Y; Kind, Y; Moore, Y; Obey, Y.

Republicans - Petri, N; Ryan, N; Sensenbrenner, N.

WYOMING

Republicans - Cubin, X.

 

[GreedySmurf]

Re: Blank Check for Afghanistan Passes, Iraq Funds to Come

Senate Hands Bush Another Blank Check for Iraq
By Maya Schenwar
t r u t h o u t | Report

Wednesday 19 December 2007

The Senate approved $70 billion to continue funding the occupation of Iraq on Tuesday night, backtracking on earlier promises made by Democratic leaders to set a timetable for withdrawal from the region before giving the White House another blank check.

The funds were attached to an omnibus spending bill to finance 11 government departments, making passage of the bill - in a form the president would sign - an urgent priority for many Senators, who stressed they would like to go home for the holidays with this year's federal spending settled.

The omnibus passed the House last night with $31 billion for Afghanistan operations, over $10 billion of which can be used for body armor and "force protection" in Iraq. When that sum was raised to $70 billion in the Senate, it was also expanded to state that all monies could be used for either Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Senate amendment, sponsored by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Joe Lieberman, roughly followed a preconceived bipartisan plan. Democratic leadership in both Houses discussed a plan last week to pass Afghanistan funding in the House, then to allow Republicans to attach a measure for Iraq funding in the Senate, hoping to produce a bill President Bush would approve.

"If this amendment does not pass, the underlying bill will not become law," said Senator McConnell on the Senate floor. "To get a presidential signature will require the passage of the McConnell/Lieberman amendment."

Although President Bush originally requested almost $200 billion for the wars, his spokeswoman, Dana Perino, said on Tuesday the president would agree to $70 billion "for now, if it comes to him in a clean bill" - with no timetables for withdrawal included. Despite months of promises they will not pass a "blank check for war," Democrats appear to be complying with Bush's demands as the omnibus bill moves back to the House for a vote tomorrow.

"We thought 2007 was going to be the year we changed the course on Iraq, but now it looks like we'll have given the president two blank checks for the war by the end of this year," said Erik Leaver, policy outreach director for the Foreign Policy In Focus Project, referring to the 2007 war supplemental, which provided more than $100 billion in May. "The deal's gotten so thick at this point that people simply aren't going to vote no on this."

The Democrats are dead-set on finishing their spending bills by Christmas, since a "getting-the-job-done" philosophy was one of their rallying cries when they took control of Congress at the beginning of the year, according to Leaver. In October, leading House Democrats vowed to avoid bringing any war spending bills to the floor before January, but when Bush warned last month such "delays" would lead to layoffs for many civilian Pentagon employees, Congress relented to a vote.

According to a December Congressional Research Service report, the urgency surrounding the passage of war funding may be tinged with alarmism: Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan could be funded through March or April without layoffs, if the defense department took internal steps to slow spending.

In an unanticipated move on Tuesday, Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Russ Feingold proposed an amendment to partially withdraw US troops from Iraq within nine months. Twenty-two Democrats joined them in opposing unrestricted funding, providing for a brief moment of uncertainty on a plan that was expected to pass easily through the Senate.

Feingold stressed the urgency of Iraq withdrawal, and cited it as a major issue among his constituents, most of whom oppose the war.

"If those of us in Congress who want to end this war don't take every opportunity to push back against this administration, we will be just as responsible for keeping our troops in Iraq," Feingold said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Reid/Feingold amendment would have cut troop levels more quickly than would General Petraeus's plan. Yet, the amendment called for troops to remain in Iraq to train Iraqi soldiers, protect American bases and carry out "targeted counterterrorism operations" - provisions similar to those delineated by President Bush in an agreement he signed with Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki last month. It would ultimately leave up to 70,000 troops in Iraq, plus a similar number of private contractors, according to Leaver.

"It was more of a PR stunt at that point than any serious thinking on ending the war," Leaver said. "The Democrats want to go home saying, 'We tried our best.'" Leaver suggests the House passage of an Afghanistan-only bill on Monday was a similar move, placing the blame for continuing the Iraq War on the laps of the president and Republicans in Congress.

Following the failure of the Feingold amendment, Sen. Carl Levin sponsored a legally nonbinding "sense of the Congress" amendment, which stated troops should be partially withdrawn "in a reasonable time." The amendment would not restrict the president in any way, and would fall in line with General Petraeus's plans for Iraq. Levin apologized for the amendment's weak language, saying it was "better than silence." The amendment failed.

Bush warned on Monday he would not accept a bill that excludes Iraq funding or contains a timetable for withdrawal. "There should be no difference of opinion about whether our commanders on the ground ought to be those who decide or those who recommend to the president and the Congress the best way to proceed," Bush said during a speech in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

However, like it or not, the Iraq funding amendment stands to face strong opposition when it goes to the House. In October, 92 Congress members signed a letter promising to refuse to fund the war without implementing redeployment guidelines. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is still committed to voting against Iraq funding, according to her spokesman.

Should opposition in the House prevent full passage of the omnibus by Friday, Bush suggests Congress pass a yearlong continuing resolution, meaning the entire government - including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - would be funded at 2007 levels.

"If they can't get the job done, like I'm hopeful they will, then all they got to do is just take what's called a continuing resolution, get the people's business done that way and go on home," Bush said. "They got to make sure they fund the troops, though, on the way out of town."

Leaver predicts, however it happens, Congress will indeed fund the troops on their way out, repeating May's pattern of ultimate defeat on the part of antiwar Democrats. It's possible, he said, that progressives will achieve withdrawal goals in the next war supplemental, which is expected in the spring. But it may be a few more months before real changes begin to occur.

"For awhile, we might see this same pattern repeating," he said. "But in '06 we saw a lot of seats changing hands because people were upset with Iraq War. When we get closer to election time, perhaps we'll see some more meaningful changes in policy."