Murtha: War funds in exchange for withdrawal

[unhappycamper]

Murtha: War funds in exchange for withdrawal
By Kimberly Hefling - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 8, 2008 12:40:10 EST

A top Democrat said Thursday he is preparing legislation that would give President Bush the war funding he wants this year, but on the condition that troops leave Iraq by the end of the year.

Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, said he’ll propose that the House vote this March on the spending measure. In addition to the troop withdrawal, he said he’ll ask for other conditions such as that all deploying troops must be fully trained and equipped.

Similar bills scraped by on party line votes in the House last year only to fail in the Senate, where Democrats hold a narrower margin of control and 60 votes are needed to overcome procedural hurdles.

Murtha, speaking to reporters following a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he’s confident this bill would pass the House, but he’s not sure about the Senate.

Bush has requested about $189 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Congress has approved about $87 billion, leaving the Defense Department $102.5 billion short for this budget year, which began Oct. 1.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_murthabill_080208/