“I believe that the power of the purse is the most effective leverage that Congress has to influence the President in his prosecution of the war in Iraq and bring it to an end.  Each time that the House has considered war spending bills this year, I have evaluated whether the measure contains binding language that begins the process of ending the war and language holding the President accountable to the American people in his conduct of the war.  Each time I cast the vote that I believed would hasten an end to this war and I will do so again today.

The war spending amendment before the House of Representatives today does not require redeployment of our troops from Iraq, nor does it hold the President accountable in his conduct of the war.  I cannot support the war spending amendment.

Earlier today, I cast a vote in favor of requiring the House of Representatives to consider measures in September of this year, which, if passed, would bring our troops home and cancel Congressional authorization for the President to prosecute this war and continue U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Accompanying the war spending amendment is an emergency supplemental amendment that deals with domestic emergencies.  This amendment responds to Hurricane Katrina losses and recent agricultural disasters.  In addition it raises the minimum wage, funds veterans’ health care, extends the MILC program and revives the SeniorCare program in Wisconsin through 2009.  I will vote for this domestic emergency spending amendment."