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Kennedy to vote 'no' on Iraq spending billAides expect about 15 Democrats to reject Bush's $87 billion request
From Steve Turnham
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, the Senate's most influential liberal voice, announced Thursday he intends to vote against President Bush's $87 billion spending request for Iraq. "When the roll is called on this $87 billion legislation, which provides no effective conditions for genuine international participation and a clear change in policy in Iraq, I intend to vote no," Kennedy said in a stinging speech delivered on the Senate floor. Kennedy's votes often set the tone for voting among Democrats, and Senate Democratic aides expect as many as 15 Democrats to vote against the measure. The vote is expected to take place Thursday or Friday. In his speech, Kennedy said that a "no vote is not a vote against supporting our troops." "It is a vote to send the administration back to the drawing board," he said. "It is a vote for a new policy -- a policy worthy of the sacrifice our soldiers are making, a policy that restores America as a respected member of the family of nations, a policy that will make it easier, not far more difficult, to win the war against terrorism." Likewise, Democrats, who have said they will vote against the spending package, say they support the troops, but oppose the bundling of reconstruction money with funds for the troops. The bill has about $65.3 billion for U.S. military expenses in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and $21.6 billion to rebuild those two nations and aid other countries including Liberia. Most of the money from both categories is for Iraq. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, has not said which way he will vote, but has said he expects most Senate Democrats to back the bill. President Bush attempted to convince Republican senators this week to support the spending request, showing what one senator said was the most passion the president has exhibited since just after the September 11 terror attacks. Bush got backing for his position Wednesday from Democratic presidential hopeful Rep. Dick Gephardt. The Missouri Democrat said he supports Bush's entire $87 billion supplemental request, which includes the $21.6 billion, calling it "the only responsible course of action." A spokeswoman in his office said that while Gephardt will vote for the bill in its current form -- which makes all the money a grant -- he would prefer that part of it be a loan and would vote for an amendment to that effect if one is offered in the House of Representatives. Among the other Democratic presidential candidates, Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut supports the Bush plan while Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John Edwards of North Carolina oppose it, as does Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said Wednesday she too would vote no, and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, whose home state kicks off the presidential primaries, is expected to announce that he also will vote against the measure. A year ago, Harkin voted to give the president the authority to go to war. Now he is expected to withdraw that support, saying he was deceived.
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