Limits on troop deployment blocked
WASHINGTON -- The ongoing debate over the Iraq war continued last week in the Senate with no impact on the policy of the Bush administration.
The best chance of anti-war Democrats to force President Bush to change course in Iraq failed when the Senate defeated an amendment to allow troops as much time at home as they spend on military duty.
Although the Senate voted 56-44 in favor of the amendment by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., 60 votes were required to advance the measure to a final vote.
Supporters of the Webb amendment said troops deserve as much time away from combat as they serve in harm's way.
Opponents charged the amendment was a disguised effort to lower troop levels in Iraq. They argued generals, not politicians, should determine when troops go to war.
The vote exposed more resistance to the Webb amendment than there was two months ago when it failed on a 56-41 vote.
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted for the Webb amendment.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., voted against it.
Further underscoring the stalemate on Iraq, the Senate voted 47-47 on an amendment to begin withdrawing troops in 90 days and to complete the evacuation in nine months. The measure fell 13 votes short of the 60 needed to advance.
Reid voted for the amendment.
Ensign voted against it.
The tie vote followed a 70-28 rejection of an amendment by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., that would have cut off funding for the war after nine months.
Reid, a co-sponsor of the Feingold amendment, voted for it.
Ensign voted against it.
ANTI-WAR AD CRITICIZED
The Senate voted 72-25 to condemn the liberal group MoveOn.org for a newspaper ad questioning the integrity of Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
The ad was headlined, "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?"
Bush called the ad "disgusting" and other critics described it as an unwarranted personal attack.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who is a senator from Illinois, declined to vote on the measure, dismissing it as an attempt to score "cheap political points."
Ensign voted to condemn the MoveOn.org ad.
Reid voted against condemning the ad.
DETAINEE APPEALS DENIED
The Senate defeated legislation that would have allowed foreign terrorism suspects imprisoned by the United States to file appeals in federal courts.
The Senate voted 56-43 for the amendment, falling four short of the 60 needed to allow detainees to challenge their incarceration or treatment in custody.
Advocates of the amendment said terrorism suspects should not be denied access to U.S. courts.
Critics said terrorism suspects are sufficiently protected under current law, and the amendment would give them an opportunity to exploit the U.S. judicial system.
Reid voted to allow terrorism suspects to file appeals in federal court.
Ensign voted against it.
HOUSE PASSES FAA BILL
The House voted 267-151 to provide $68 billion during the next four years to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The legislation includes language to aid passengers stranded on airport runways.
For example, airlines would be required to offer clean drinking water to passengers and allow them to deplane after excessive delays.
Although the bill does not define how long an excessive delay would be, the Department of Transportation would be empowered to penalize airlines or airports that do not follow the guidelines.
The White House issued a veto threat against the bill, saying it does not link the FAA's revenues to costs caused by an increasing volume of passengers.
Instead of using taxes on fuel and tickets under the current system, the White House wants to impose fees based on distance traveled per flight.
Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Jon Porter, R-Nev., voted for the FAA bill.
Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., voted against it.
