KING OPPOSES SURRENDER IN IRAQ
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Congressman Steve King voted against House passage of H.R. 1591, a bill that provides additional money for the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan and that would require the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq beginning as early as October 1, 2007. The bill passed the House by a vote of 218 - 212.
President Bush originally requested $103 billion in funding from Congress to carry on the military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Democrats added more than $21 billion in additional spending to the bill to ensure enough Representatives would vote for the controversial withdrawal provisions. Much of the $21 billion in additional funds will be spent on projects and programs, like relief to spinach farmers, that were not requested by the President and are unrelated to the War on Terror.
"It's not enough that Democrats are giving up on our troops in Iraq. They had to do it by buying Members' votes with over 20 billion in taxpayer dollars. Plenty of that was pork, but there were also plenty of add ons that could easily pass the House on their own merits. It is upsetting that Democrats forced members to choose between their districts' needs and the importance of maintaining the constitutional separation of powers and securing victory in Iraq.
"This bill is an unconstitutional effort that, if left unchecked, will produce a defeat for U.S. forces in Iraq. The Commander in Chief, President Bush, has the authority to command this war-not Nancy Pelosi," said King.
"Congress only has three constitutional responsibilities when it comes to war: declare war, raise an army and navy, and fund the war. The Commander in Chief specifically is granted all power to conduct war to keep Congress from micromanaging it. That was an obvious failure in the Continental Congress, and it will be a failure in the Pelosi Congress," added King.
On Wednesday, King asked the Rules Committee to allow him to offer an amendment on the House floor to strike the withdrawal provisions from the bill. The Committee decided that none of the proposed amendments, including King's, would be allowed for debate on the floor.
