Republican Strategy For Iraq War Bill

     From Iraq Slogger    March 27,2007

By GREG HOADLEY

Sen. Mark Pryor, Arkansas Democrat, has suggested an unusual twist on the debate about an Iraq withdrawal timetable: Hide the date. Elizabeth Williamson reports that Pryor suggests an amendment to the Senate appropriations bill that would require the creation of a fixed timetable and exit strategy, but one which would be developed under classification and shared only with Congress. Some voiced skepticism that the plan could remain secret if distributed to Congress. A defense analyst wondered if classifying a major aspect of the biggest policy debate of our time is “really workable or politically satisfying for anyone.”

In a strategic change, Senate Republicans have signaled that they will not go to the mat to prevent the appropriations bill, passed in the House, from passing the Senate. Instead, Minority Leader McConnell has signaled that his party will oppose the measure (even Sen. McCain will fly back for the vote), but will force the president to use a veto rather than using parliamentary tactics to block the legislation in the Senate, Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Weisman report in the Post. GOP Sen. Cochran will introduce an amendment to strike the timetable for withdrawal, but if the amendment fails, the Republicans will not force the Dems to find 60 votes to move the bill to a vote. Cochran said he hoped the strategy would induce both parties to negotiate more flexibly in conference, as many members of both parties are keen to avoid the major showdown that a veto would provoke. In the background to the Senate GOP decision not to block the legislation lies a growing dissatisfaction with the president’s leadership and an unwillingness to take risks that may be compromising in the future on his behalf.

   More of this story can be found at the New York Times

 

Tags: Iraq White House Senate Congress