| Show Democrats find happy medium i Commentary JL JL Despite pressure from within the party Democrats give in on a timeline for withdraw withdrawing ng of troops in Iraq to President Bush After exercising his right to veto for only the second time in his administration the first being federal financing for stem cell research George W Bush vowed he would do the same to any further Iraq spending bills that involved a timeline for withdrawal of US U.S. forces in Iraq The Democratic majority found themselves in a precarious situation By giving in to the president they risk losing any momentum gained in inthe the 2006 elections afforded them by not only their constituents but the overgrowing ever over growing population of swing and independent voters With time running out on the current funds allocated for the war in Iraq the options for the Democrats were becoming more and more abrupt Cut off the funds altogether which may have been paramount to committing political suicide or give in fn on the timeline for withdrawal issue in exchange for a something that may not have found its way past the presidents president's veto stamp You cant can't just cut off funds said Congressman Lee Hamilton co-chair co of the Iraq study group It was essential for the president and Congress to come together Unity of effort is absolutely necessary on this issue Mr Hamilton echoed the sentiments of the majority of Congress as well as the general population According to a Time CNN poll taken in April 70 percent of people polled were apposed to cutting of funds In exchange for the timeline for withdrawal issue the Democrats were able to put into placing some 18 benchmarks for forthe forthe forthe the Iraqi Government to achieve within a certain timeframe I think it a good idea to have benchmarks said Bush The liThe Iraqis need to stand up as we stand down Perhaps the bigger issue the Democrats received in exchange was the minim minimum m wage proposal This will raise mise the current rate frOl from to per hr This T lS was one of the first bills the Democrats passed in inthe inthe inthe the house after the 2006 elections that met some opposition from the Senate many Democrats such as Congressman John Murtha are in favor of cutting of I funds altogether The Iraqi Government has nas shown little or no effort to bring peace to their country American troops are dying and they want to go on a day 90 vacation Former senator John Edwards said This is about life and death Congress needs to stand up to this president He fie is stubborn and bullheaded This piece of legislation marks the fist first real compromise between the Congress and the White the White J-I J House ouse since the election i in iri 2006 With other issues such as immigration and social security on the horizon it remain to be seen if significant progress will be made on these hot button topics or if Bush is in fact a lame duck president Floyd W Masters |
