House Dems. pass Iraq spending bill 221 - 205

Long day of debate on the Iraq bill. Long day of procedural games. But at the end of the day, the House of Representatives passed the new Iraq spending bill by a vote of 221 - 205. This legislation fully funds the needs of our troops for the next several months and it demands accountability from George Bush. Imagine that. Holding the President accountable. Ten Democrats voted with Bush and the GOP. We'll get the roll call when it's posted. Roll call vote is up.

Rep. Jerry Lewis, the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee (who is under investigation by the FBI, btw), offered a motion to recommit the spending bill. This was the GOP's blank check amendment. Fortunately, it was defeated by vote of 195 - 229. Only three Dems. voted with the GOP on that one. Of course, the GOPers were willing to keep giving the blank check that he's had for the past 5 years.

The McGovern bill calling for redeployment from Iraq to begin with 90 days lost by 171 - 255 vote. 169 Democrats and 2 Republicans voted to end the war.


The Republican's offered a motion to recommit on that bill, too. It was defeated by a 210-218 margin. We wanted the NO vote on that one.

The Republicans spent the day lying, spinning and offering procedural gimmicks. They do nothing to stop the war or hold the Bush administration accountable. Yesterday, a group of Republican House members went to the White House to tell Bush that his war is a disaster. Today, they all voted to prolong that disaster.