Democrats struggle to pass war funding bill
By Andrew Taylor
Associated Press Writer / July 1, 2010
Associated Press Writer / July 1, 2010
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WASHINGTON—With their ranks infused with anti-war sentiment, Democrats controlling the House were struggling Thursday for a way to both finance President Barack Obama's Afghanistan troop surge and salvage their dwindling jobs agenda.
Pressure to act before the Fourth of July has House leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., scrambling to find the mix of war money and stimulus money that could attract Democratic votes Thursday evening.
The House measure is anchored by money for the war and Democrats are likely to add funding for other programs not connected to military needs.
The Senate passed Obama's $37 billion war funding request in May, but House leaders have been short of solutions -- and votes.
The delays have eroded any leverage House Democrats might have had in their dealings with the Senate and the White House, which are pressing the House to accept an almost $60 billion Senate measure that blends the war funding request with money for disaster aid accounts, foreign aid and disability benefits for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Even if passed, the House measure has been promised a cold shoulder from Senate Republicans, who have the votes to filibuster it if the measure went to the Senate. The prospect of further deadlock and delays in providing troop funds has Democrats like Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota pressing House leaders to simply
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