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Democrats 'to end veto fight'
22/05/2007 07:21 - (SA)
David Espo
Washington - In grudging concessions to US President George W Bush, opposition Democrats intend to draft an Iraq war-funding bill without a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops and shorn of billions of dollars in spending on domestic programmes, officials said on Monday.
The legislation would include the first federal minimum wage increase in more than a decade, a top priority for the Democrats who took control of Congress in January, the officials added.
While details remain subject to change, the measure is designed to close the books by Friday on a bruising veto fight between Bush, a Republican, and the Democratic-controlled Congress over the war. It would provide funds for military operations in Iraq through September 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Democrats in both houses of Congress are expected to seek other opportunities to challenge Bush's handling of the unpopular conflict later this year.
Democratic officials stressed the legislation was subject to change. They spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorised to discuss provisions before a planned presentation to members of the party's rank and file later in the day.
'Attempt to draft a second bill'
Democrats in Congress have insisted for months they would not give Bush a blank cheque for his war policies. Officials said the legislation is expected to include political and military goals for the Iraqi government to meet toward establishment of a more democratic society.
Failure to make progress toward the goals could cost the Iraqis some of the reconstruction aid the United States has promised, although it was not clear whether Democrats intended to give Bush power to order the aid to be spent regardless of progress.
Several officials said it was possible that Democrats would attempt to draft a second bill, to include much of the domestic spending that Bush and congressional Republicans have said they oppose.
Either way, Democratic leaders have said they hope to clear a war spending bill through both houses of Congress and send it to Bush's desk by week's end. They added the intention was to avoid a veto.
Bush vetoed one bill after Democrats included a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops in Iraq, and Republicans in the House of Representatives upheld his rejection of the measure.
The House then passed legislation to provide war funds in two 60-day installments. Bush threatened a veto, and the measure was sidetracked in the Senate in favour of a non-controversial bill that merely pledged to give the troops the resources they need.
That set the stage for the current House-Senate negotiations on a measure to send to Bush.
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