GOP Leader Blog

Democrats Vote "No" on Republican Effort to Protect U.S. Troops Against Funding Cuts
Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on February 13, 2007

House Democrats this morning kicked off an historic debate on the future course of the Global War on Terror by voting en masse against a GOP effort to bar Congress from cutting off funding for American troops in harm’s way, endorsing plans by House Democratic leaders to begin cutting off funding for the war effort in the coming weeks.

House Republicans attempted to force a House vote on H.R. 511, legislation authored by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) – a former Vietnam POW – that would prohibit Congress from cutting off funds for troops fighting the Global War on Terror. But House Democrats lined up behind their leadership and voted successfully to prohibit Republicans from even bringing the Johnson bill to the floor.

This resolution is the first step in the Democrats’ plan to cut off funding for American troops who are in harm’s way. Just look at their own words:

  • “The ultimate, unequivocal authority of the Congress is the power of the purse, and so we must use it.” – Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), House floor, February 13, 2007.
  • “It’s only the bark,” Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) said of this week’s resolution. “The real bite comes with the spending bill.” – Washington Post, February 13, 2007
  • “A non-binding resolution doesn’t get you there,” said John B. Larson of Connecticut, the only member of House Democratic leadership who joined the anti-war caucus. “What Murtha has proposed gets you there.” – CQ Today, February 9, 2007
  • “The war is binding, the resolution is not,” [Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)] said, “We’ve got to get out of there, Congress must cut off the funds.”

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