Blue Dogs vow to bite on Iraq spending bill

A small group of fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats is threatening to block the emergency war spending bill over a program for veterans’ benefits not offset with tax hikes or spending cuts.

Because of that problem, and the efforts by House Republicans to stall floor action with procedural motions, the vote on the carefully crafted supplemental measure could be delayed until Friday or next week.

{mosads}“Some of us oppose creating a new entitlement program in an emergency spending bill, whether it’s butchers, bakers or candlestick-makers,” said Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), a founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition who serves on the House leadership team as a deputy whip.

The so-called GI Bill of Rights, authored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), would give veterans money for college and cost $720 million in its first two years. But critics say that could grow to billions in future years.

House Democratic leaders attached it to the supplemental spending bill figuring Bush wouldn’t dare veto veterans’ benefits. If he did, Republicans would pay a steep political cost.

But that calculation is now causing heartburn for Blue Dogs, the same members who have generally supported war funding. The fiscally conservative coalition is split. Some members are willing to block the bill because “pay-as-you-go” budgetary rules — offsetting new spending with spending cuts or increased taxes — have been ignored one too many times. Others, like Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.), don’t want to oppose benefits for veterans.

“It’s a cost of the war,” Barrow said.

Because of that division, there is no formal Blue Dog position on the bill. But blocking the bill wouldn’t require all 47 Blue Dogs; it takes only 15.

The supplemental was cut into three sections to allow members to vote against withdrawal from Iraq, against war funding or against domestic spending without blocking the entire bill. Each section is expected to get a majority. The withdrawal section is expected to be stripped out in the Senate. The other two sections will be merged and sent back to the House for final passage.

Blue Dogs could upset that balance by voting against the rule, the procedural device needed to bring the supplemental package to the floor.

Republicans usually vote uniformly against Democratic procedural motions. Under those circumstances, and with the relatively thin Democratic majority, it takes only 15 Democratic defections to bring down the rule.

Asked if there were more than 15 members willing to oppose the rule because of the GI Bill of Rights, Tanner said, “That’s not an unreasonable assumption.”

Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), another Blue Dog leader, also indicated there is likely enough Blue Dog opposition to block the bill. Asked if there are 15 Blue Dog votes against the rule, he said, “There’s 47 of us, what do you think?”

Boyd and other Blue Dogs said coalition members are meeting with leaders to air their grievances.

“Hopefully, it will be worked out,” said Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), a Blue Dog member. “There are conversations going on right now.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the Blue Dogs’ concerns are “legitimate,” but added there’s good reason to put the education program in the emergency spending bill.

“Meeting the needs of our veterans is a cost of war,” Pelosi said. “On this bill, there’s $200 billion for the war that’s not paid for, so it’s OK to not pay for the education of our veterans.”