US Congress debates Iraq funding
{{date|December 4, 2007}}
[[Image:20071203-Bush speech on budget Rose Garden.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President Bush delivers a statement on the budget Monday, December 3, 2007, in the [[w:White House Rose Garden|White House Rose Garden]].]]
The [[United States Congress]] has returned from a two-week recess to face a busy agenda before it completes its session later this month. President [[George W. Bush]] is urging lawmakers to approve his funding request for the wars in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]] as a first priority.
 
President Bush renewed his criticism of majority [[w:Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] in Congress who want to tie a timetable for the withdrawal of [[United States]] troops from Iraq with approval of more funds for the war effort.

"It's unconscionable to deny funds to our troops in harm's way because some in Congress want to force a self-defeating policy &mdash; especially when we're seeing the benefits of success," said President Bush.

Mr. Bush says progress made on the battlefield as a result of a boost in the number of troops in Iraq this year would be undermined by a troop withdrawal timeline.

The President has requested [[w:United States dollar|US$]]196 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House of Representatives has approved US$50 billion of that. But in the Senate, [[w:Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] blocked a similar funding package last month because it included a timetable for a troop withdrawal.

Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]], a [[Nevada]] Democrat, said the failure of the Senate to approve the war funding should not be blamed on the Democrats.

"If not for the stubborn refusal of the president and his Republicans enablers to work with us, we would have accomplished a lot more," said Senator Reid.

Although Mr. Bush had warned that the [[w:United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]] would be forced to begin laying off civilian employees if the funds are not received soon, Senator Reid said the Pentagon could shift funds for the war effort from other accounts.

Besides funding for the war, Congress must also pass legislation funding government agencies and programs. In addition, lawmakers may also try to revise a wiretapping law that expires in two months.

{{haveyoursay}}
{{VOA|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-12-03-voa61.cfm
|title=Bush, Senate Democrats Resume Sparring on Iraq War Funding}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/04/495029.aspx
|title=Bush: Still battling Congress
|author=Domenico Montanaro
|pub=MSNBC
|date=December 4, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-12-03-voa61.cfm
|title=Bush, Senate Democrats Resume Sparring on Iraq War Funding
|author=Deborah Tate
|pub=VOA News
|date=December 3, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/washington/03cnd-cong.html?ref=politics
|title=Bush and Democrats Renew War of Words
|author=Carl Hulse and David Stout
|pub=The New York Times
|date=December 3, 2007}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:George W. Bush]]
[[Category:Harry Reid]]
[[Category:US Congress]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States)]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)]]
[[Category:US House of Representatives]]
[[Category:US Senate]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Asia]]
White House Rose Garden.
The United States Congress has returned from a two-week recess to face a busy agenda before it completes its session later this month. President George W. Bush is urging lawmakers to approve his funding request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a first priority.
 
President Bush renewed his criticism of majority Democrats in Congress who want to tie a timetable for the withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq with approval of more funds for the war effort.

"It's unconscionable to deny funds to our troops in harm's way because some in Congress want to force a self-defeating policy — especially when we're seeing the benefits of success," said President Bush.

Mr. Bush says progress made on the battlefield as a result of a boost in the number of troops in Iraq this year would be undermined by a troop withdrawal timeline.

The President has requested US$196 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House of Representatives has approved US$50 billion of that. But in the Senate, Republican blocked a similar funding package last month because it included a timetable for a troop withdrawal.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said the failure of the Senate to approve the war funding should not be blamed on the Democrats.

"If not for the stubborn refusal of the president and his Republicans enablers to work with us, we would have accomplished a lot more," said Senator Reid.

Although Mr. Bush had warned that the Pentagon would be forced to begin laying off civilian employees if the funds are not received soon, Senator Reid said the Pentagon could shift funds for the war effort from other accounts.

Besides funding for the war, Congress must also pass legislation funding government agencies and programs. In addition, lawmakers may also try to revise a wiretapping law that expires in two months.
United States Afghanistan Iraq Politics and conflicts Economy and business George W. Bush Harry Reid US Congress Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) US House of Representatives US Senate North America Middle East Asia