Bill linking war funding, deadline fails

WASHINGTON -- Like dozens of anti-war bills before it, a measure last week that would link additional war funding to troop withdrawals from Iraq failed in the Senate.

The legislation that called for U.S. forces to leave Iraq by Dec. 15, 2008, narrowly passed the House in a 218-203 party-line vote.

In the Senate, where Democrats hold a smaller majority, the bill died in a procedural vote, 53-45. Sixty votes were needed to advance it.

The bill would provide $50 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan contingent on troop redeployments from Iraq to begin within 30 days. Most U.S. forces would be out of Iraq by late 2008.

Democrats frustrated with President Bush's war strategy have tried 41 times this year to curtail military action in Iraq. Most attempts have stalled in the Senate. None have been enacted.

Bush has asked Congress for nearly $200 billion in supplemental funding to cover the cost of the wars in the Middle East.

The Pentagon has enough money to continue operations until mid-February without the additional appropriation, though layoffs of civilian employees are possible without the additional appropriation by that time, Bush administration officials said.

Republicans argued that American troops should be given the money necessary to do their jobs. They said Democrats were unwise to try to stop the war when it appears progress is being made in Iraq.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., voted for the bill in the House. Reps. Jon Porter and Dean Heller, both R-Nev., voted against it.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., supported moving forward with the bill. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., was against it.

A Republican alternative that would provide $70 billion in supplemental war funding with no strings attached didn't get enough votes to advance in the Senate.

The 45-53 outcome was 15 votes short of the number needed to end debate.

Ensign supported the Republican bill. Reid opposed it.

HOUSE SUSTAINS BUSH VETO

The House failed to override Bush's veto of a bill that would fund labor, health, and education programs, forcing new negotiations on the $600 billion spending bill for fiscal 2008.

The override effort fell two votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to nullify Bush's veto. The vote was 277-141.

Bush said the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill contained too many special projects that put the cost at $10 billion over his budget request.

Democrats said Bush has ignored domestic priorities while funneling money into the war. They criticized him for seeking $200 billion more for the war, yet chastising Democrats for their fiscal policies.

Congressional leaders said a new labor, education and health spending bill would be combined with other appropriations legislation in a large "omnibus" spending package that splits the difference between what Congress seeks and what Bush has requested.

That would require lawmakers to trim about $11 billion from the bills to fund Cabinet departments.

Berkley and Porter voted for the override. Heller voted against it.

MORTGAGE BILL CLEARS HOUSE

In response to a growing number of home foreclosures, the House voted 291-127 to revamp the mortgage industry, requiring mortgage brokers to be federally licensed and preventing lenders from making loans that consumers will not be able to repay.

The advocacy group Center for Responsible Lending has estimated more than 2 million consumers who have subprime loans will lose their properties to foreclosure.

Consumers have defaulted on their home loans as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgages have increased.

The bill institutes penalties for lenders who convince homeowners to refinance mortgages that do not provide any benefits. It makes it more difficult for lenders to institute fees that increase the risk of foreclosure.

Opponents said Congress should not interfere with mortgage markets and that it would be difficult for lenders to know whether borrowers could pay back loans.

Berkley, Porter and Heller voted for the bill.

FISA BILL LACKS IMMUNITY

Telephone companies that cooperate with the federal government's warrantless wiretapping would not be immune to lawsuits in a measure that passed the House, 227-189.

The change to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act brought a veto threat from Bush, who said he would not sign the bill unless the immunity for phone companies was made retroactive.

The House bill would require the Bush administration to seek a warrant from a secret court before it could eavesdrop on terrorist targets possibly communicating with people inside the United States.

A temporary FISA bill was approved by Congress in August. It expires in February. The Bush administration maintains it needs broad spying power in order to protect American interests.

Critics said warrantless surveillance could infringe on civil liberties.

Berkley voted for the bill. Porter and Heller voted against it.

FARM BILL STALLS IN SENATE

Prospects for farm legislation this year grew bleak in the Senate as Republicans and Democrats disagreed over whether to add amendments to the $288 billion farm bill.

Democrats tried to block any amendments that did not pertain to agriculture, while Republicans sought to add on measures relating to taxation and illegal immigration.

With Democratic leaders refusing to accept Republican amendments, GOP senators blocked consideration of the bill.

Democrats said Republicans are trying intentionally to derail the farm bill, which Bush has threatened to veto.

The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said it is possible that existing farm legislation will be extended through next year.

The bill that reauthorizes funding for farm subsidies and nutrition programs like food stamps is normally considered every five years.

A vote to move forward with the bill fell five votes short of the 60 needed, 55-42.

Reid voted to advance the bill. Ensign opposed moving it forward.