Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie voted no today on another $39 billion for the war in Iraq.  The funding measure came to the House as a Senate amendment to the 2008 omnibus appropriations bill.

Abercrombie supported the Defense Bill and yesterday’s omnibus spending bill, but drew the line at the Senate amendment adding $39 billion in Iraq funding with no conditions or requirements. 

“I cannot vote to give this President another blank check to ‘Stay the Course’ in Iraq without any sort of accountability, preferably in the form of firm deadlines for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq,” he said.

Bush had insisted on $200 billion in “emergency” funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The $39 billion approved today, with $31 billion already voted for Afghanistan, provides a total of $70 billion, which is expected to last into the spring of 2008.

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