Congress approves military funding bill
The Senate's approval reflects a Democrat failure, critics say
Also In The News
|
inthenews. |  |
Friday, 27, Jun 2008 08:59
Congress has given its approval to new legislation approving ongoing funding for the United States’ military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Senate voted 92-6 last night in favour of the $162 billion (£80 billion) package, after the House of Representatives backed the bill last week. President George Bush is expected to make it law soon.
Democratic opposition to the war in Iraq, which saw the party gain control of the Senate in the midterm elections of November 2006, has failed to limit Mr Bush’s foreign policies in the way many pundits had hoped.
After he vetoed legislation tying future funding to a definite timetable for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq last year the Democrats have adopted a more pragmatic approach this time round.
“This is not about a failure of the House of Representatives,'' House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
“It's about what we cannot get past the next body and onto the next president's desk.''
The bill contains Democrat-backed funding for veterans as well as enhanced benefits for the unemployed.