Obey PUTS HOLD ON BUSH’S $190 Billion WAR SUPPLEMENTAL

good to see this. a bit of resistance if nothing else!

http://obey.house.gov/hor/wi07/

WWW.OBEY.HOUSE.GOV
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ellis Brachman
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
(202) 225-3365

Obey PUTS HOLD ON BUSH’S $190 Billion WAR SUPPLEMENTAL
Calls for War Surtax so Military Families Don’t Bear Full Burden of Iraq War

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a press conference today with Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and Congressman James McGovern (D-MA), the Vice Chairman of the Rules Committee, Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI), the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said that he will not take up President Bush’s nearly $200 billion war supplemental request this year; calling the policy behind the President’s request “a dead end policy.”

“The policy outlined by the President is being sold to the country as a plan to reduce our troop levels in Iraq, but it is quite the opposite. When you strip away the fog, it’s simply a plan to get us back six months from now to the same place we were six months ago before the surge began. It is not being undertaken because of any new determination to reduce troop levels. It is simply recognizing that we do not have enough troops to sustain the surge level. It’s a confession that the President has not a clue about how to get us out of that civil war and instead plans to punt the problem to his successor – ruining two administrations rather than just one,” Obey said. “As Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I have no intention of reporting out a $200 billion supplemental that will give the President a blank check for an entire fiscal year and I have no intention of acquiescing in a policy that will result in draining the treasury so dry that it will result in the systematic disinvestment of America’s future.”

Obey added that he would be perfectly willing to consider the President’s supplemental request if that request were made in support of a change in policy that would do three things:

1. Establish as a goal the end of U.S. involvement in combat operations by January of 2009.

2. Ensure that troops would have adequate time at home to rest, retrain and re-equip between deployments.

3. Demonstrate a determination to engage in an intensive, broad scale diplomatic offensive involving other countries in the region.

Noting that “we need to stop pretending that this war doesn’t cost anything,” Obey also announced that Murtha, McGovern and he will be introducing a bill to create a war surtax to pay for operations in Iraq instead of passing those costs on to future generations as the President has requested.

“I’m tired of seeing that only military families are asked to sacrifice in this war; and they are asked to sacrifice again, and again, and again, so we are putting together this bill in the hope that people will stop ignoring what this war is costing American taxpayers and call the President's bluff on fiscal responsibility,” Obey said. “The President is threatening to veto our efforts to provide one-tenth the amount of money that he is spending in Iraq for investments in education, health, medical research, science, law enforcement, and other areas that are crucial to creating a stronger country and more prosperous families. If the President is really serious about combating deficit spending then we’d be happy to help him avoid shoving the costs of the war in Iraq on to our kids by providing for a war surtax.”

“If this war is important enough to fight, then it’s important enough to pay for,” Obey concluded.

put the kibush on this already

Check LBN...

Trust me I am steaming here.

I agree with Obbey on this to be honest

Does that mean it's totally stopped?

damn there are days I want to scream at the Speaker of the House.

In fact, I will be writing another one of those long letters that I am sur the staff shreds by now

the new taxes to pay for the war from comming to the floor..but she can do nothing about someone STOPPING legislation

:wow:

Raise the interest rates to slow down the inflation.

If we are really in a war(and we are), and if billions are needed to fight this war(they are), then why not have all Americans and other consumers who are in our midst pay an additional tax on goods and services,(consumer tax)?? This type of tax should have been in place already, and by now, even a loyal Republican citizen would be screaming for relief and to stop this war in Iraq.

However, I also see that our Speaker Of The House has stated that this tax is a dead issue. She will not support it, and other leading Democrats have said just as much.

Another good idea dumped by our leaders who were voted in to stop the war.

Try harder next time. I know you can do it.

WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!!

THE DEMOCRATS AREN'T GOING TO DO A G-D DAMNED THING!!

IT'S MERELY POSTURING!!!

IT'S ALL SPIN & PROPAGANDA!!!

Within the next month, King george will get EVERY SINGLE THING HE WANTS.

The Democrats WILL CAVE. You can count on it as much as the sun rising in the East and setting in the West.

You're watching a reality show, whose outcome has been predetermined. But they appreciate your interest, no shut your mouth and go shopping for a house, to save our economy from total collapse.

But if you think that the Democrats are going to stand up to King george for even 2 Seconds, you're on more drugs than rush.

either. The GOP needs to wake up and Obey the will of the people.