House OKs $106 billion war funding bill

updated 7:24 p.m. ET June 16, 2009

WASHINGTON - War-funding legislation survived a fierce partisan battle in the House on Tuesday, a major step in providing commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan the money for military operations in the coming months.

The $106 billion measure, in addition to about $80 billion for military operations, provides for an array of other spending priorities, including $7.7 billion to respond to the flu pandemic and more than $10 billion in development and security aid for Pakistan and Iraq as well as countries such as Mexico and the nation of Georgia.

Democratic leaders pushing the bill on behalf of the Obama administration had to overcome an unusual alliance. Anti-war Democrats opposed continued war spending and Republicans condemned $5 billion in the measure to secure a $108 billion U.S. line of credit to the International Monetary Fund for loans to poor countries.

Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, contended that Democrats were endangering troops by shifting money to create room for a "global bailout loan program."

The vote was 226-202, with only five Republicans voting for the bill and 32 Democrats opposing it.

'Stand up for them'
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., unsuccessfully appealed to Republicans for support, saying 80 percent of the package still went to the troops. "Stand up for them," he said.

The Senate could move as early as this week on the legislation, which includes $1 billion to fund government rebates for consumers who trade in their old vehicles for more fuel-efficient models.

The Pentagon has said that without the bill the Army could start running out of war funds as early as July. President Barack Obama has pushed for the package, arguing that it is crucial to his efforts to wind down operations in Iraq while boosting personnel and fighting power in Afghanistan.

Republicans also objected to a decision by House-Senate negotiators to remove a provision prohibiting the release of photos depicting U.S. troops abusing detainees. It was taken out, "at the demands of the fringe left," said House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

Obama, in negotiating the removal of the provision, guaranteed that he would stop the release of photos showing detainee abuse.

Unable to count on Republicans, Democrats had to appeal to some of the 51 anti-war colleagues who opposed the legislation when it was first offered in May. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, indicated that he wouldn't change his "no" vote. "America has to start taking care of things here at home and we can't do it by continuing to support wars based on lies," he said.

Hoyer said, "One of the problems is we have some very deep-seated philosophical views that pursuing Afghanistan and Iraq with additional funding is not appropriate."

MORE FROM CAPITOL HILL

Capitol Hill Section Front

Newsweek: Deconstructing Arkansas and Blanche Lincoln NYT: Health bill revives abortion groups Ill. Democrats: Keeping Obama Senate seat not easy For Reid, Dodd, clout cuts both ways Poll: Americans conflicted over health overhaul Schumer: Dems can go it alone on health care Senate health bill targets ‘Cadillac’ plans Text message exposed senator’s affair Senate Democrats at odds over health care bill Congress is losing its patience with the Fed Capitol Hill Section Front   Add Capitol Hill headlines to your news reader: