Congressional Democrats suffered another setback on Thursday as a bill aimed at reducing funding for most Iraqi combat operations by next June was blocked.
The bill, which only allows funding for limited U.S. missions such as training Iraqi forces or targeted counter-terrorism operations, was backed by only 28 Senators, all Democrats, including presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, still short of the needed 60 votes for it to be passed.
As many as 20 Democratic Senators voted, along with Republicans, against the bill, showing they are still concerned about cutting off vital funding for U.S. troops in a foreign battleground, despite their anti-war stance.
This was the second defeat of attempts by congressional Democrats to challenge President George W. Bush's war policies this week. A bill that would regulate troop combat tours in Iraq was aborted on Wednesday because of inadequate support in the Senate.
The bill required troops in Iraq be allowed as much time at home as they are in combat, instead of the current regime of 15 months in combat and 12 months at home.
Source: Xinhua
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