WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vowing a "change of direction in Iraq," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, advocated a House Democratic initiated war-spending bill that calls for a troop withdrawal deadline of Sept. 1, 2008.

"We are saying, 'Mr. President, first of all, the Department of Defense needs to meet its guidelines for training and equipping of our people and how long we leave them in theater and how long we give them a rest. If you don't feel that is appropriate, then you can waive it,'"Hoyer told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Monday. "So we are not demanding the president follow that. But he has to tell us why he is not following those guidelines."

Hoyer also dismissed criticisms that House Democrats are attempting to "micromanage" the war.

"The criticism of the Republicans and the president have been that we are somehow micromanaging the war," he said. "That is not the case. There are no commanders on the ground, nor General Petraeus, who will be constrained in tactics or strategy to protect our troops and seek success."

The spending bill passed the House Appropriations Committee last week on partisan lines and is to be debated by the full chamber Thursday.