NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — post-2003-war — monetary-cost — Viewing Item

Byrd nayed voice vote 87b bill { November 4 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/31104nCongress-Iraq.html http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/31104nCongress-Iraq.html Tucson, Arizona Tuesday, 4 November 2003 $87.5B Iraq aid bill gets final OK; voice vote avoids roll call THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - Congress voted its final approval Monday for $87.5 billion for U.S. military operations and aid in Iraq and Afghanistan, a day after Americans in Iraq endured their worst casualties since March. In an anti-climactic moment for which only a handful of senators appeared, the Senate approved the bill by voice and handed a legislative victory to President Bush, who had requested a similar package two months ago. The voice vote - in which Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., was the only one to shout, "Nay" - let lawmakers sidestep the roll call that usually accompanies major legislation. That underscored the complicated political calculus presented by the measure, which was dominated by popular funds for U.S. forces but also sparked questions about Bush's postwar Iraq policies and record budget deficits at home. "As the president said time and time again, we will not walk away from Iraq," said Senate Appropriations Committee Chair-man Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, a leading author of the bill. "We will not leave the Iraqi people in chaos, and we will not create a vacuum for terrorist groups to fill." Even some senators critical of Bush's policies on Iraq said they would support the bill as the best way to protect U.S. troops and expedite the day when Americans can leave Iraq. One who said he opposed the bill was Byrd, top Democrat on the Appropriations panel. In some of the day's strongest words, he called the bill a "monument to failure," citing the lack of help from allies and persistent U.S. casualties. The measure was the second massive package for Iraq and combating terror that Bush has requested and Congress has produced in less than seven months. In April, it enacted a $79 billion package that included $62.4 billion for the war in Iraq, which had just begun, plus other money for Afghanistan, tightened security at home and help for financially ailing U.S. airlines. The House cleared the most recent bill Friday by 298-121. Most of its money is for the federal budget year that runs through Sept. 30, though some of it is for a longer term. The bill also has $1.2 billion for buttressing Afghanistan.

Americans say enough Audit finds 9b dollars unaccounted for in iraq Auditors cant trace 97m earmarked for iraq { May 4 2005 } Bush adds 80 billion to war costs in january 2005 { January 26 2005 } Bush adds another 25b to war funds { August 6 2004 } Bush seeks 25 billion more Bush seeks 70 billion more for iraq Bush seeks 82b more for iraq Bush vows spend whatever necessary { September 7 2003 } Bush will seek 87b more for iraq { September 7 2003 } Byrd nayed voice vote 87b bill { November 4 2003 } Charity claims billions missing from us iraqi funds Costing 1b week Democrats try cut 20b iraq bill Goa rips pentagon atrocious iraq financial management { July 15 2005 } Iraq reconstruction money goes unspent { July 19 2005 } Lacks records for spending a billion { July 30 2004 } No blank check for war funding { May 13 2004 } Pentagon may cut forces in half { September 2 2003 } Pentagon paycuts for troops { August 14 2003 } Public says 87b too much { September 14 2003 } Republicans critical of bush 82b war request { February 17 2005 } Senators hide behind voice vote { November 5 2003 } Spending records on iraq lacking { July 30 2004 } Trillion cost of war War could cost 2 trillion says economist { December 2005 } Files Listed: 26

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