Democrats Launch New Effort to Force Withdrawal of U.S. Troops From Iraq

CQ TODAY MIDDAY UPDATE
July 6, 2007 – 1:44 p.m.
Democrats Launch New Effort to Force Withdrawal of U.S. Troops From Iraq
When Congress returns to work next week, lawmakers plan to begin debate on a series of Iraq-related measures in a bid to pressure President Bush into changing course in the war.
The bicameral strategy, coordinated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in effect resumes a drive that stalled earlier this year when President Bush vetoed a war supplemental spending bill that included a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal.
Now the Senate will debate the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill (HR 1585) for up to two weeks and vote on a wide range of Iraq amendments, including a new timetable for troop withdrawal.
In the House, Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have promised to hold a series of Iraq-related votes in July, including measures dealing with troop readiness, the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and a timetable for troop withdrawal.
The renewed Democratic push on Iraq comes as some senior Senate Republicans move to distance themselves from the president’s strategy. Pete V. Domenici, R-N.M., on Thursday became the latest veteran Republican to urge Bush to shift course and begin drawing down U.S. combat forces.
Source: CQ Today Midday Update
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