House Narrowly Approves $106 Billion War Bill

Reps Who Voted in Favor Cite Loyalty, Insist Bill 'Still Sucks'

by Jason Ditz, June 16, 2009

Despite growing opposition, the House of Representatives today narrowly passed the $106 billion war funding bill today, 226-202. The vote capped weeks of major debate about the merits of several provisions of the bill, notably the guarantee of $108 billion in credit to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

But in the end, much of the support appears to have been grudging, at best. They lost the support of almost every Republican, only five of whom actually voted in favor. One of those, Rep. Anthony Weiner, said he opposed the bill but voted for it because “we are in the process of wrapping up the wars,” adding the content of the bill “stilll sucks.”

Even then the bill would have been defeated had 19 Democrats who had opposed the bill the first time not reversed their position. The agreement to remove the provision banning the release of detainee abuse photos seems to have been a factor here, but Rep. Jan Schakowsky, one of the former opponents who eventually decided to back the bill had a simpler explanation. “I want to support my president,” she insisted.

The bill now moves on to the Senate for final approval, which is expected to come later this week. There is some measure of opposition to some of the least war-oriented additions however, including a $1 billion “cash for clunkers” provision that will give vouchers to people who trade in older cars for more fuel efficient newer models.

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