By Jen DiMascio
Democrats planned to vote on a bridge fund for the war in Iraq that includes $1.6 billion to fight improvised explosive devices yesterday afternoon but at press time had pushed the vote to later in the evening and were working to reel in more support among Democrats.
A vote on four months of funding for the war comes a day after President Bush signed a $459 billion bill into law to fund the Defense Department’s basic operations in fiscal year 2008.
A draft of the $50 billion bridge fund approved Nov. 13 by the Rules Committee includes $1.6 billion to fund the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), $1.5 billion to buy Army vehicles and $302 million for Army aircraft. It would also provide $1.9 billion so the Army can buy other equipment and $729 million for Marine Corps equipment.
The bill also includes $3.1 billion for the Iraq Freedom Fund, which the Defense Department can transfer to fund operations in Iraq or to fight terrorism.
The bulk of the funding provides for operation and maintenance accounts across the Pentagon and especially in the Army.
The bill also includes language calling for a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq.
Republicans have already registered objections to language calling for troop withdrawals. But yesterday Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and other members of the GOP on the House Armed Services Committee briefed reporters about a provision in the bill they said is “dangerous.”
The provision in question requires the president to certify to Congress that units are “fully mission capable” at least 15 days before those units deploy.
That’s a tall order, especially for Special Operations units and quick reaction forces, said Hunter, the HASC ranking member, arguing that this policy is “a formula for defeat.”
Hunter added that Central Command Commander Adm. William Fallon was asked about the impact of such a policy and said it would restrict commanders’ flexibility.
Beyond this particular issue, however, Hunter objects to all of the bill’s Iraq language, saying, “We’d like to see a clean bridge fund, which simply provides money for the troops.”
But yesterday Democrats were busy seeking support from within their own party, managing to get a commitment from several members of the “Out-of-Iraq” caucus.
That did not include Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who said there was “not a chance” he would support the bill.
The delay on the bridge fund pushed back what was expected to be the final conference meeting. Conferees were expected to be appointed shortly after the House voted on the bridge fund; the conference meeting was scheduled to follow, according to House spokesmen.