Iraq Resolution Vote Next Week

WASHINGTON (AP) _ House Democratic leaders said Thursday that members will vote next week on a resolution stating opposition to President Bush's decision to send more forces into combat and voicing

Thursday, February 8th 2007, 5:39 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ House Democratic leaders said Thursday that members will vote next week on a resolution stating opposition to President Bush's decision to send more forces into combat and voicing support for the troops.

House members will also get a chance to vote on a Republican alternative, they said.

The leaders described the vote as the first step of many that will be taken by Democrats to try to force an end to the nearly four-year-old war that has killed more than 3,000 U.S. troops and turned public opinion strongly against the conflict.

At a closed-door meeting of Democrats, leaders reassured lawmakers that next week's symbolic vote would not be the last word, participants said. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who chairs a subcommittee that oversees defense funding, told members he plans to try blocking funding for the deployment of troops in an upcoming bill paying for the war unless they meet high readiness standards.

``This debate will go forward and the American people will have their representatives for three days to articulate their view on how they want to proceed'' in Iraq, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said of next week's debate. ``That is important I think for the president to hear. It's important for the country to hear, and we will ensure that it is done.''