Sorry US tax payers about the levee's, bridges and the crippled infrastructure, you know you can't have everything. Geo Bush
The White Houses says it supports the legislation
The US House of Representatives has approved more funding to pay for another year of fighting in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
In a 268-155 vote, the Democrat-held House agreed to provide the Pentagon with $162bn (£82bn).
But the bill did not include any timetables for withdrawing US troops from Iraq. President George W Bush opposes such deadlines.
The bill is now expected to be debated in the Senate in the coming days.
In a statement, the White House said it supported the measure.
Criticism
The bill allows the Pentagon to pay for US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until mid-2009.
It also envisages a significant increase in college education benefits for returning soldiers and help for US unemployed and flood victims in the Midwest.
If approved by the Senate, it will bring to more than $650bn (£330bn) the amount provided by Congress for the war in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Some Democrats criticised the bill for not setting deadlines for pulling out US troops from Iraq.
"Let us hope this is the last time another dollar will be spent without constraint, without conditions," Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
Welcoming the result of the vote, House Republican Minority leader John Boehner said: "I'm glad we're there."
Friday, June 20, 2008
US House approves war funds bill
$165 Billion for Iraq, $2.7 Billion for the US
Congress is starting a debate on the budget bill, which has $165 billion in funding for the war in Iraq, but only $2.7 billion for emergency spending in the US. That's a 61:1 ratio in favor of spending your tax dollars in Iraq, rather than here in the US.
The US infrastructure is failing, and levees all over the Midwest are failing, or getting ready to fail. Flooding is destroying homes and businesses across the region. Roads and bridges in America are in serious disrepair, and schools across the country are in need of renovation. The electric grid is a disaster. Investment in alternative energy and medical research to cure diseases is abysmally low.
I think its time for US taxpayers to demand that we rebuild America, not Iraq.
Contact your Congressional Representative now, before the vote. US taxpayers will save over $2 billion per week after we end the Iraq occupation. We will also save US lives, which is even more important.
Do it now.
(202) 224-3121
