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Congress Sends $106 Billion War Funds Bill to Obama
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Congress on Thursday sent President Barack Obama a $106 billion bill to pay for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars after political sparring that could foreshadow tougher fights over Obama's agenda.
U.S. soldiers stand guard during a patrol in Baghdad's Hurriya district, June 17, 2009. (REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen) The bill, delayed by disputes over quickly closing the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay and expanding support for the IMF, highlighted the difficulties Obama may face in Congress even though his fellow Democrats control both the Senate and House of Representatives.
The bill contains $79.9 billion to continue fighting the two wars, $7.7 billion to address the H1N1 flu pandemic, and $1.4 billion in foreign aid for Pakistan, which is fighting Taliban militants spilling over the border from Afghanistan.
"The bill before us represents a balanced compromise between the issues and funding recommended by the House and Senate," said Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The Senate voted 91-5, with most Republicans joining Democrats to support it. Obama is expected to sign it into law. The House approval on Tuesday garnered only five Republican votes and 32 Democrats voted against it.
Democrats have a commanding majority in the House, but still need to keep centrist Democrats aboard and win a few Republican votes in the Senate to forestall any procedural roadblocks mounted by the opposition party.
After weeks of tense negotiations among the White House, Democrats and Republicans, lawmakers put limits on Obama's efforts to close the controversial prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where more than 200 terrorism suspects are being held.
LIMITS ON DETAINEES
The legislation permits the administration to bring suspects to U.S. soil for trial but not permanent detention. It also bans the release in the United States of any detainees who have been cleared of wrongdoing through September 30.
Republicans and, later, Democrats demanded the White House produce a detailed plan before shutting the facility down. In the meantime, the administration has rushed to release or transfer more than a dozen detainees.
Another obstacle was a $100 billion credit line for the International Monetary Fund, which is working to help developing countries survive the economic downturn, an $8 billion increase in the U.S. contribution to the lender, and U.S. support for the IMF's plan to sell 400 tons (12.97 million ounces) of its gold reserves.
House Republicans had expressed concern the IMF would use the funds to lend to U.S. foes like Iran and Venezuela and also argued the matter should have been considered separately.
With the bill's passage, Obama can follow through on a commitment he made with other Group of 20 member nations to add $500 billion to an IMF emergency fund for countries needing financial aid to avoid bankruptcy.
The Senate also fought off an attempt to strip out $1 billion set for a program to boost flagging U.S. car sales by offering vouchers to encourage consumers to trade in their less fuel-efficient vehicles for ones that get better mileage.
Republican Senator Judd Gregg had argued the program was not paid for and should not be allowed to add to the growing debt. Auto sales are off 40 percent this year.
"There are innumerable places in this government, which is spending trillions of dollars a year, to find $1 billion to pay for this bill if it was a priority," he said.
(Editing by Peter Cooney)
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19 Comments so far
Show AllDear Representitive(insert here), I am calling today(202-224-3121) to express my dismay at how you rolled over for another huge out of budget illegal war appropriation.Even if the sweeteners were nice for you, and you were threatened with exfundifucation if you you dissented I am feeling betrayed by your (lies) prevarications.I am giving notice of my intention to give you one last chance to redeem your sorry, lame, paid for ass ,before I start to volunteer for third party opposition again.Please support H.R.2404 James McGoverns' exit strategy for "Operation Enduring Freedom" the U.S. military adventure in ( Pipelineistan)including mercenary and robotic forces.While you are at it please vote for H.R.676 Single payer,H.R.1866 Industrial Hemp Bill of 2009,and H.R. 2269 Gulf Coast Civic recovery act.If you don't show some progressive ( balls,ovaries)I will support a bill to have your health care and parking privileges suspended as well as your health and country club memberships. My fond regards Johnny Q. Public
Please send this sample letter after you call, personalised of course to your "Representitive" in the House and would someone please make one up for the Senate? peace
Very good!!!
I have already given up on both the Democrats and the Republicans and think they are both corrupted and both are indentured servents. I know people think that they can change things by staying Democrat, but I don't see that as being realistic. They have lost their backbone and they continue to lie to get elected because they know that people will vote for them in the next election again because they are the lesser of two evils. Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil. It is time for us to realize that if we as Americans have any chance of saving this country from total ruin than we are going to have to join and be active in third parties.
Bernie Sanders the Independent from Vermont is one of the few Senators who I believe really cares about the future of this country. Time and time again he stands alone and doesn't cave into pressure. Why can't we get active and elect more third party men and women to Congress and political office who do have backbone and won't just be indentured servents who are bought and paid for?
If you're serious about ending war, get active with the Green Party. Green parties around the world share basic principles of nonviolence, social justice, grassroots democracy, and sustainability. On top of that, the Green Party refuses to accept corporate money.
Join a party that shares your values: gp.org
Reforming our corrupt voting, campaign and elections system must accompany the shift away from the ruling Duopoly. Simply joining a party will do nothing in itself. We have reached the point where civil disobedience will be necessary to get the attention of the plutocrats.
Brother how true,I joined the Greens back in the 90s' and my Democratic Sec. of State,delisted the party in my town for not meeting some quota.They relisted me "unafiliated"or independant.This was an attemp at Dem. jerrymandering in revenge for Naders run in 2000.The bariers errected by the parties to third party ballot access are if not unconstitutional at least undemocratic.Oh I keep forgeting what was once a republic is now Corporate client state.Single Payer,Public financed campaigns and term limits.Instant run off elections, equal ballot access,all these things compete with corporatism for full spectrum dominance! peace
Why am I not surprised. If not the Republican, then the Democrats. I'd much rather have the BEAGLE BOYS controlling Congress with Ma Beagle as the president than this kind of Scroogy dictatorship !
Give the IMF money so they can lend it to poor nations?
They hope Hugo doesn't get any! That's funny
Like a disease that takes hold first in your government, then moves to covet your resources, leftest governments in South America, had better avoid this offer like the plague.
Worse yet the IMF sells your debt to a vulture fund!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
programmes/newsnight/6362783.stm
I think I need a barf bucket next to my desk for convenience, I might not make it to the restroom next time.
Wasn't one of Obama's pre-election promises to include funding for the wars (I mean, occupations) in the normal budget cycle, and not "emergency" spending that is not included in the end-of-FY-year budget summaries?
Y'know, if this guy was Pinocchio, his nose would stretch all the way from DC back to Chitown.
"Thou shalt not gather together:
Thou shalt not publish:
Thou shalt not read:
Thou shalt respect thy representatives and the functionaries whom the result of the count or the whim of the State will have given thee:
Thou thalt obey the laws which their wisdom will have made for thee:
Thou shalt faithfully pay thy taxes:
And thou shalt love the government, thy lord and God, with all thy heart, all thy soul and all thy mind: because the government knows better than thee what thou art, what thou deservest, what is appropriate for thee, and it has the power to punish those who offend against its commandments, as well as to reward, even unto the fourth generation, those whom it favors." Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Can you imagine what could be done with $106 billion if it were put into American communities to help with basic health care? Or to help build or fund schools or libraries. No, they must be cut back and starve for funds according to our leaders.
Washington is a cesspool of corruption that has no interest in the welfare of the american people. They work to feed the military industrial complex and giant agribusiness. We, the people, are nothing to them unless they want our kids to send to their wars - then we somehow count.
One small item in the Supplement is not mentioned. Small only by comparison is the $600 million to pay off our bill on 4 new F-22's that neither the generals or the Secretary of Defense say we need. And not only that, he House Armed Forces Committee also withdrew $369 million from Environmental Cleanup to begin the construction of 12 more. The vote was 31-30 at 2:30 AM June 17. A full panal of Republicans plus several Democrats colluded in this "earmark" to keep Lockheed Martin happy.
The Democrats bash the Republicans, and vice versa, but they are really one in the same. As others say, all that money spent would have done wonders for our country, and think of all who would still be alive. Now, we have to worry as to how many more will die. The previous regime did go over board on the macho bit, and the threats, and a shame Obama has picked up where they left off.
By the time O'Bamba leaves orifice, the ocean will have encroached several feet upon the eastern seaboard. War on Ocean! War on Ocean!
How much longer is God, Allah, Mother nature, etc.
going to let these war mongrels carry on with their hate,destruction and murder?
Okay, when are we going to wise up. Anyone who voted for this bullshit, should be voted out office next time they are up for re-election. If not quit your damn whining.
I'm with you.
I want to see who voted for this and work to replace them with people who will really represent us.
And who would that be? All the knights on white horses have withered on the historical vine. And the calvary won't be coming over the hill to save the day, they're in Iraq right now trying to save their asses from being shot off for 'us'.
The larger they build their fascist machine, the more fun we'll have destroying it. The news today is that USans are slowly coming to realize the full extent of what they lost past eight years. Before the Demoks concede the stolen election of 2000, there was hope in the USA that good may trump evil in Washing-town. That hope is vaporized today.