On Thursday we covered the announcement of hearings to be held by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) in the House Judiciary Committee and by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Conyers’ hearing will look at the questions of legality surrounding Bush’s “Signing Statements” and Feingold will look at issues surround de-funding the War in Iraq in advance of a legislative proposal to do just that. More details, and the expected witnesses for both of those hearings are in our previous article.
The BRAD BLOG has now obtained details from Feingold’s office concerning what his proposal to exercise Congressional control of the purse strings over military deployment in Iraq will and won’t do. A fact sheet concerning his upcoming legislation and how the defunding and re-deployment of U.S. troops would be conducted is below.
As well, the statement lists several other historical instances in which Congress voted to hold back funding while American troops were deployed, including in 1998 when the Republican-controlled legislature included a provision in a Defense Authorization bill prohibiting additional funding for U.S. troops in Bosnia after a date-certain, unless certain assurances were given to Congress by then-President Bill Clinton.
Feingold’s fact-sheet follows in full…
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will soon propose legislation to force the President to safely redeploy U.S. troops out of Iraq within six months of enactment.
Feingold’s legislation will:
- Prohibit the use of funds for the continued deployment of U.S. Armed forces to the Republic of Iraq after six months of enactment.
- Require the Administration to report to Congress a strategy for safely redeploying U.S. forces from Iraq within the six months prior to the fund termination date.
- Allow for specific exceptions to the prohibition including to:
- Conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations in Iraq.
- Allow a limited number of U.S. forces to conduct specific training for Iraqi security services.
- Provide security for U.S. infrastructure and civilian personnel.
Feingold’s legislation will not:
- Prohibit or restrict funds for the safe and orderly withdrawal of the Armed Forces personnel from Iraq.
- Prohibit or restrict funds for the troops remaining in Iraq for purposes listed above.
- Prohibit funds for any department or agency of the Government of the United States to carry out political, economic, or general reconstruction activities in Iraq.
On numerous occasions, Congress has exercised its constitutional authority to limit the President’s ability to escalate existing military engagements. Here are just a few examples:
- Cambodia ““ In late December 1970, Congress passes the Supplemental Foreign Assistance Appropriations Act prohibiting the use of funds to finance the introduction of United States ground combat troops into Cambodia or to provide U.S. advisors to or for Cambodian military forces in Cambodia.
- Vietnam ““ In late June 1973, Congress passes the second Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY1973. This legislation contains language cutting off funds for combat activities in Vietnam after August 15, 1973.
- Somalia ““ In November 1993, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act includes a provision that prohibits funding after March 31, 1994 for military operations in Somalia, except for a limited number of military personnel to protect American diplomatic personnel and American citizens, unless further authorized by Congress.
- Bosnia ““ In 1998, Congress passes the Defense Authorization Bill, with a provision that prohibits funding for Bosnia after June 30, 1998, unless the President makes certain assurances.
we do need another hero, and his name is Russ.
kick-ass! Feingold is my favorite Russ, ever!!!
Hey Brad
How do we send an email?
{He’s buried a link somewhere way down the righthand sidebar. –99}
To you that is, and Russ as well, while were at it.
{A trip to senate dot gov will probably end up giving you that information. –99}
THANK YOU SENATOR FEINGOLD.
Thanks 99
{Any time… any time I’m awake, that is! 😛 –99}
Someone check Senator Feingold’s pants for balls … by golly, I believe he’s got them! Thanks Russ!!
http://www.citizenboo.com
Dems have the majority now on the sub-committee that Russ chairs and on the Judiciary Committee which Leahy chairs.
The way to address a letter to each is:
and
There are different numbers of people and different chairs on the sub-committees as compared to the standing committees.
The sub-committee is composed of 5 dems:
It will pass the sub-committee if all 5 dems vote for it, or if one of them does not, and one of the 4 republicans does:
Not likely that any of the republicans will cross over.
Somewhere, over this weekend, someone is ordering Limbaugh & Hannity to smear Feingold next week.
delusional:
Dictionary Link, emphasis added.
The Dick has not yet been told “you’re fired” by The Donald, but he is being mentioned in both ongoing criminal trials (Libby) and oncoming criminal investigations:
Full Story Link, emphasis added. Haliburton Dick, did you really think you could get away with it?
Delusional.
Isn’t that a loophole that could have us protecting the “green zone?”
Feingold should be proposing a pre-emptive “will not fund” resolution re Iran. Have you heard the sabre rattling today? It is deeply disturbing.
Waxman’s Committee on Oversite and Gov’t Reform held a hearing today that had incredible testimony.
The wannabe bu$hit dictator has issued orders that political hacks in the administrative agencies, such as NASA, must get approval before talking to folks outside about science. The “science” must be politically approved.
The wannabe dictator has shut down comment about global warming or global climate change in the agencies, and has threatened anyone who did not “keep on message”. Some scientists have been shut down.
The message originates with the oil barons who have been deceiving America for decades. The gave birth to a bastard false message that ignores the dangers of addiction to oil.
The dangers are, among other things, destruction of the human life on this planet thru nuclear war or destruction of the eco-system.
For the first time the really BIG BROTHER spirit of this admin and the past rubber-stamp congress is coming out loud and clear.
Check out the hearings!!!
A top GOP senator, past prosecutor, and past head of the Judiciary Committee, agrees and declares that congress can stop any war anytime it wants to. He may be the only GOP senator to know this fact.
The congress is not co-equal to the presidency when it comes to war, it is FAR SUPERIOR.
Remember Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution.
Specter has a long road back to integrity, but that’s a hell of a good, and very timely, start Dredd!