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Reid Sets Defense Bill Aside for Now
With Iraq Amendment Blocked, Reid Sets Defense Bill Aside for Now
By Adam Graham-Silverman
and Josh Rogin
See original and
Truthout version
Congressional
Quarterly
Wednesday 18 July 2007
The failed amendment to the Senate version of the defense authorization bill (HR 1585) has been the centerpiece of a Democratic strategy to force President Bush to change course on Iraq. It would require Bush to begin a drawdown of U.S. forces within 120 days and to complete the withdrawal of most units by April 30, 2008.
The effort to end debate and move to a vote on the amendment failed, 52-47, well short of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture. Four Republicans - Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Gordon H. Smith of Oregon - voted "yes," along with independent Bernard Sanders of Vermont.
The only Democratic "no" vote was cast at the last minute by Reid, who made the move in order to be able under Senate rules to offer a motion to reconsider at a later time.
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