I find it interesting that many Clinton supporters think Obama is all talk, no action. I do recall that he introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007
(S 433) on January 30, 2007 with co-sponsors Durbin, Leahy, and Sanders. While it didn't go anywhere but to the Committee on Foreign Relations, it's not like he hasn't attempted important legislation, or that Clinton has been more successful in her attempt. Their records, on average, are pretty similar, unless I'm missing something. :shrug:
S.433
Title: A bill to state United States policy for Iraq, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack (introduced 1/30/2007) Cosponsors (3)
Related Bills: H.R.787
Latest Major Action: 1/30/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.SUMMARY AS OF:
1/30/2007--Introduced.
Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 - States that: (1) U.S. Armed Forces levels in Iraq after the date of enactment of this Act shall not exceed January 10, 2007, levels without specific statutory authority enacted by Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) except as otherwise provided, the phased redeployment of U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq shall begin by May 1, 2007.
Authorizes the President to temporarily suspend such redeployment upon certification to Congress that: (1) such action is in the U.S. national interest; and (2) the government of Iraq is taking specified actions. Resumes redeployment if Congress enacts a joint resolution disapproving such suspension or suspension renewal.
Authorizes, upon certification by the President to Congress, post-deployment retention of certain forces in Iraq to: (1) protect U.S. personnel and facilities; (2) conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations; (3) provide training for Iraqi security forces; and (4) conduct Office of Defense Attache functions. Terminates retention if Congress enacts a joint resolution disapproving such retention.
Reaffirms provisions prohibiting the establishment of bases or installations providing for the permanent stationing of U.S. forces in Iraq.
States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) implement a plan to intensify training of Iraqi security forces; and (2) undertake diplomatic initiatives to restore peace in Iraq and prevent a regional conflict.
Conditions continued economic assistance (with exceptions for humanitarian, employment, and security assistance) to the government of Iraq after May 1, 2007, upon the President certifying to Congress that the government of Iraq is taking specified actions with respect to economic improvements and reducing sectarian violence.
Clinton introduced S. 670 on 2/16/2007. It, too, sits at the Committee on Foreign Relations.
S. 670: Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act of 2007
Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton (no cosponsors)
Introduced Feb 16, 2007
Last Action:
Feb 16, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Show All Related Votes
A bill to set forth limitations on the United States military presence in Iraq and on United States aid to Iraq for security and reconstruction, and for other purposes.
Overview
The following summary is provided by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan government entity that serves Congress and is run by the Library of Congress. The summary is taken from the official website THOMAS.
2/16/2007--Introduced.
Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act of 2007 - Prohibits, with a limited presidential national security waiver, U.S. military force levels in Iraq after the date of the enactment of this Act from exceeding such levels as of January 1, 2007.
Prohibits appropriations for security and reconstruction assistance to the government of Iraq 90 days after enactment of this Act unless the President provides Congress with a specified certification respecting Iraq's: (1) security forces; (2) oil revenue distribution; (3) civil rights and political accommodation concerning its ethnic and sectarian groups; and (4) policy towards the participation of former Baath party members in the Iraqi government.
Terminates authority for the use of U.S. military forces in Iraq 90 days after enactment of this Act unless the use of such forces is specifically authorized by Congress in a statute enacted after enactment of this Act or the President provides Congress with a specified certification respecting: (1) U.S. redeployment and mission transition; (2) Iraq's security forces; (3) oil revenue distribution; (4) civil rights and political accommodation concerning Iraq's ethnic and sectarian groups; (5) the participation of former Baath party members in the Iraqi government; and (6) the convening of an international conference on Iraq. States that the termination shall: (1) continue in effect if Congress enacts a joint resolution disapproving the President's certification; and (2) not be construed to prohibit the use of U.S. military forces in Iraq for force protection, force security, or similar purposes during the U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq.
Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds to deploy U.S. military forces to Iraq unless the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that such forces are adequately equipped and trained for their missions.
According to GovTracks, Obama and Clinton have similar ratings in relation to bill sponsorship, and Obama gets lower marks for missing more votes. Obama sits on one more Committee than Clinton, and they both chair a subcommittee:
CLINTON:
Bill Sponsorship & Cosponsorship
Statistics: Hillary Clinton has sponsored 354 bills since Jan 22, 2001, of which 307 haven't made it out of committee (Extremely Poor) and 2 were successfully enacted (Average, relative to peers). Clinton has co-sponsored 1725 bills during the same time period (Average, relative to peers).
Clinton is a radical Democrat according to GovTrack's own analysis of bill sponsorship. (Where do these labels come from?)
SurveyUSA reports Clinton's job approval rating at 60% as of 2007-11-20. The average approval rating among senators in states surveyed is 53%. See their survey details for more information.
Hillary Clinton missed 167 of 2421 votes (7%) since Jan 23, 2001. The graph to the left shows the number of missed votes over time. Click for a larger chart.
Committee Membership
Hillary Clinton sits on the following committees:
Member, Senate Committee on Armed Services
Member, Subcommittee on Airland
Member, Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Member, Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Chairman, Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health
Member, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
Member, Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Member, Subcommittee on Children and Families
Member, Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
Member, Senate Special Committee on Aging
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300022 OBAMA
Bill Sponsorship & Cosponsorship
Statistics: Barack Obama has sponsored 129 bills since Jan 4, 2005, of which 120 haven't made it out of committee (Poor) and 1 were successfully enacted (Average, relative to peers). Obama has co-sponsored 548 bills during the same time period (Average, relative to peers).
Obama is a rank-and-file Democrat according to GovTrack's own analysis of bill sponsorship. (Where do these labels come from?)
Barack Obama missed 193 of 1113 votes (17%) since Jan 6, 2005. The graph to the left shows the number of missed votes over time. Click for a larger chart.
Committee Membership
Barack Obama sits on the following committees:
Member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Chairman, Subcommittee on European Affairs
Member, Subcommittee on African Affairs
Member, Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Member, Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection
Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Member, Subcommittee on Children and Families
Member, Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
Member, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Member, Subcommittee on Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration
Member, Subcommittee on Investigations
Member, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
Member, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629