House to Vote on Iraq Funds This Week

Democrats controlling the House plan to pass legislation this week funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan into next year.

The plan would give anti-war lawmakers a vote on nonbinding language setting the goal of withdrawing most combat troops by December 2009, said a senior House Democratic aide, though Senate Republicans have the votes to filibuster the move.

The $178 billion — plus measure will also carry legislation costing $16 billion over two years to extend by six months unemployment insurance coverage for jobless people whose benefits have run out. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan would begin to receive a big boost in college aid.

Barring any unexpected developments, it would be the last war funding bill passed during President George W. Bush's tenure in office. It would bring the amount approved by Congress since Sept. 11, 2001, to fight terrorism and conduct the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to about $875 billion.

Bush has vowed to veto any funding bill exceeding his request, but Democrats are calculating that he will be hard-pressed to kill the measure because it offers help for returning soldiers and the long-term unemployed. Or if he does veto the bill, Republicans would face politically risky votes to sustain his veto.