Iraq funding passes.

The Senate last night approved a $555 billion omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year, shortly after bowing to President Bush's demand for $70 billion in unrestricted funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Democrats had vowed only weeks ago to withhold any Iraq-specific money unless strict timelines for troop withdrawal were established, but they instead chose, on a 70 to 25 vote, to remove what appeared to be the final obstacle to sending the spending bill to the White House, where Bush has indicated he will sign it. Senators then passed the omnibus bill, 76 to 17.

The House still must approve the spending, but will really have no choice but to do so. And if they get into a budget showdown with the President, they lose -- just as the GOP did when they went toe-to-toe with Bill Clinton. History has repeatedly shown that a president who stands firm wins in such cases -- and this president has absolutely nothing to lose by standing firm against a Congress that is even less popular than he is.

Posted by: Greg at 11:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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