Doyle Refuses to Give President Blank Check

Congressman Votes Against Iraq Supplemental Bill

Washington, DC – Thursday, May 24, 2007 – Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-14) released the following statement today after House consideration of H.R. 2206, legislation to provide $98 billion in additional funding for the ongoing war in Iraq:

“In keeping with my pledge to hold President Bush accountable for his failed policies in Iraq – and to bring our troops home from Iraq as soon as practicable – I voted against the Iraq Supplemental when the House considered it today.

“Congress has approved $378 billion for the war in Iraq over the last 4 years.  The President’s Iraq policy has been an abject failure. 

“I share the anger and frustration of the vast majority of my constituents over the President’s refusal to be held accountable for his failed plan to invade and occupy Iraq and build a stable, peaceful government in that country.  Today, after four years of trying, he has failed to produce a credible plan for extracting our troops from the ongoing civil war in Iraq.

“I won’t give another $100 billion to this administration without enforceable benchmarks and timelines for withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.

“An overwhelming number of retired generals and Middle East experts, as well as the Iraq Study Group, have concluded that there’s no military solution to the current conflict in Iraq.  It no longer serves any purpose to keep our sons and daughters in the middle of a political conflict that must be solved by the Iraqi people.

“This fight is far from over.  I will continue to work to hold the Iraqi Government and the Bush Administration accountable for their lack of progress, and fortunately, we will have a number of opportunities to do so.  The House will take up the 2008 Defense Appropriations bill in July and the FY 2008 Iraq supplemental in September – so the fight will go on through the summer and into the fall until we succeed in bringing our troops home.” 

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