McCAIN URGES PRESIDENT TO VETO LEGISLATION REQUIRING WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE FOR U.S. TROOPS
April 26, 2007
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today issued the following statement:
“Today the Senate passed the latest version of its ill-advised supplemental appropriations legislation. The conference report would mandate the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq based on an arbitrary deadline, rather than conditions on the ground. It would force withdrawals to begin no later than October 1st, irrespective of whether we are winning in Iraq or losing, whether things are getting better or worse. That is the wrong way to run this war.
“The bill also appropriates $21 billion more than the President request, at a time when, given the budget deficit, we should be attempting to limit – not increase – government spending. The legislation contains earmarks for programs that are neither wanted nor needed, and whose only effect will be to increase the burden on U.S. taxpayers.
“I look forward to the President’s prompt veto of this misguided bill. After the President rejects the legislation, I sincerely hope that the Congress will finally get serious about passing a measure that can be enacted into law. That will require my colleagues to work on a bipartisan basis with the Administration to deliver a bill free of pork and free of withdrawal timetables. We need to send a bill to the President that he can sign, and we need to do it as soon as possible – our troops in the field are waiting on our action.”
