Kindgo
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http://www.msnbc.com/news/812825.asp
House OKs use of force against Iraq
Most Democrats oppose; Daschle throws support to Bush
MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 — House lawmakers voted solidly Thursday to grant presidential authority to use force against Iraq, approving a resolution endorsed by President Bush and House leaders from both parties. The Senate was prepared to act in chorus, rejecting by a 75-25 vote a bid by opponents to slow down a final vote
MR. PRESIDENT, we are about to give you a great trust,” said Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas.
The vote was 296 to 133, a strong endorsement of Bush’s insistence that he will work with the United Nations if possible but alone if necessary to disarm Iraqi President Saddam Hussein of his weapons of mass destruction. A majority of Democrats voted against the resolution — even though their House leader, Dick Gephardt, was one of its authors.
Earlier, the last holdout among major Democratic congressional leaders, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, announced that he had put aside his misgivings and supported the Bush resolution, and the Senate moved toward a vote by the end of the day Friday.
“I believe it is important for America to speak with one voice,” Daschle declared.
Previously, Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, had not signed onto the agreement moving through Congress, which was the product of negotiations between the White House and House leaders.
Daschle said the measure still has shortcomings, but he called it an improvement over the administration’s initial request for broad authority.
The bipartisan agreement gives the president most of the powers he asked for, allowing him to act without going through the United Nations. But in a concession to Democratic concerns, it encourages him to exhaust all diplomatic means first and requires he report to Congress every 60 days if he does take action.
Shortly before noon, the Senate voted to curb debate and move to a vote on the Iraq resolution. The move limits debate to a maximum of 30 hours, but it is unlikely that all 30 hours will be used. Daschle has indicated he wants the Senate to vote before it leaves Friday. Twenty-eight Democrats joined 47 Republicans in voting to draw debate to a close.
The Senate vote was procedural, but both sides viewed it as a key test vote. It choked off delaying tactics by a few Democratic opponents and made it all but certain that the Senate would pass the measure.
Only two Republicans voted against bringing debate to a close: Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
Daschle’s support was crucial to the administration’s hope for a substantial vote and brought him praise from the White House.
“The president appreciates Senator Daschle’s decision to vote with the president on this matter,” Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
Earlier, by a 66-31 vote, the Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. — the most outspoken Senate opponent of the war resolution — that would have ended the authorization for the president to use force against Iraq after two years.
Minutes later, the House also turned back, by 355-72, an alternative offered by Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., that would have committed the United States to the U.N. inspections process but not authorized unilateral force. “I plead with you to avoid this rush to war,” Lee said.
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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