House Passes War Funding Bill
Jul 1, 2010 Comments Off Pat Dollard
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House has approved an $80 billion measure that would fund the war in Afghanistan and revive, at least for now, a few pieces of the faltering Democratic jobs agenda.
Lawmakers advanced the legislation despite increasing pessimism among lawmakers that Afghanistan is turning out to be a quagmire for U.S. troops. To win approval of the measure, Democratic leaders added money for summer jobs, college grants and to help local school districts at least partly stem a looming wave of teacher layoffs.
It survived a crucial 215-210 vote but faces a tough road in the Senate, where Republicans promise to block the domestic spending added by the House.
The war funding measure is needed to pay for the 30,000 additional U.S. troops ordered to Afghanistan.
