House to consider Rooney bill to defund Libya war

The defunding language replaces a resolution that members were going to vote on that would have required the president to withdraw U.S. forces from Libya within 15 days. House Republicans in particular worried that this resolution would have been ignored by President Obama, especially if it was only passed by the House.

“The president has ignored the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, but he cannot ignore a lack of funding,” Rooney said. “Only Congress has the power to declare war and the power of the purse, and my bill exercises both of those powers by blocking funds for the war in Libya unless the President receives Congressional authorization.”

The other resolution, H.J.Res. 68, is similar to a Senate resolution that would authorize ongoing military operations in Libya for one year, but would not authorize ground troops.