GOP cool on staggered Iraq funding plan

Republicans Tuesday reacted with skepticism to a new Democratic Iraq supplemental spending plan, which would give Congress the option of cutting off funds in July.

Republicans are rejecting the plan, with House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) saying that the GOP “will not support rationing funds for our troops in harm’s way.”

{mosads}Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also criticized the new plan after discussing the issue with his caucus.

“I think I’m safe in saying there is minimal to no enthusiasm among Republican senators for that proposal,” McConnell told reporters. “We either need to vote for funding for the troops or not. A four-month period is a pretty short period anyway, in any event. To further divide that in half and bring the uncertainty that will be the result of that to the whole funding process would be highly confusing and disruptive.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) indicated that it would be difficult to pass such a plan in the Senate.

“In the House, you know, it’s possible to get something in the House side that can be done only with Democrats,” Reid told reporters, adding that this is not a luxury he enjoys in the Senate.