GOP: No recess until Iraq bill is done

House Republicans Thursday demanded that a mutually acceptable Iraq spending bill be on President Bush’s desk before the House leaves for its Memorial Day recess.

GOP leaders announced that they are sending a letter with 194 signatures to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), asking her to stay in session until the issue is resolved.

{mosads}“It’s time for us to get our work done,” Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) told reporters. He added that Republicans are “willing to work with our Democrat colleagues to resolve these differences, but we need to do it now.”

GOP leaders lamented that there has not been a “substantive meeting” between party leaders on the issue in the last 15 days.

“Our members believe it would be a huge mistake to go home with this work undone,” said House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). “We’re disappointed that in the last two weeks there really have been no negotiations.”

Blunt added that the GOP is looking for the same kind of commitment from Democrats.

“It would be irresponsible and unconscionable for the U.S. Congress to go home for a week-long vacation without giving our troops the resources and reinforcements that they deserve,” Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (Fla.) said.

Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have indicated their willingness to work through recess to get a bill done.