Murtha: New post-veto Iraq bill will pass quickly

Looking ahead to a post-veto Iraq spending bill, appropriators are looking at either a two-month or five-month bill, and House Defense Appropriations Chairman John Murtha (D-Pa.) said Thursday he thinks one can be passed in two weeks.

The Senate passed the Iraq supplemental Thursday on a 51-46 vote, and President Bush is expected to veto the conference version next week.

{mosads}“We want to assess it again in two months,” Murtha said. “Two months sounds good, but it’s complicated. There was a time when I had confidence in the military, but these guys have lied to us so much. They’re so intimidated by the White House.”

Murtha said he expects the bill to have benchmarks, a ban on permanent bases in Iraq and a requirement that the Walter Reed Army Medical Center stay open.

Many senators, as well as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), say they’re not inclined to support a two-month supplemental.

“There are a lot of ideas being discussed, and Mr. Hoyer personally feels that at this time he doesn't see that particular option moving forward,” said Hoyer spokeswoman Stacey Farnen Bernards.

Murtha also said that he wants Iraq funding to be put in the regular defense appropriations bill for fiscal 2009, which Bush will announce in early 2008.

He added that he expects the fiscal 2008 defense appropriations bill to be on the House floor around June 28.