Washington, Sep 21 (Xinhua) Congressional Democrats suffered another setback as a bill aimed at reducing funding for most Iraqi combat operations by next June was blocked.
The bill only allows funding for limited US missions such as training Iraqi forces or targeted counter-terrorism operations. It was backed by 28 Democratic Senators, including presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but fell short of the needed 60 votes for it to be passed.
As many as 20 Democratic Senators voted, along with Republicans, against the bill, showing they are still concerned about cutting off vital funding for US troops in a foreign battleground, despite their anti-war stance.
This was the second defeat of attempts by congressional Democrats to challenge President George W. Bush’s war policies this week. A bill that would regulate troop combat tours in Iraq was aborted Wednesday because of inadequate support in the Senate.
The bill required troops in Iraq be allowed as much time at home as they are in combat, instead of the current regime of 15 months in combat and 12 months at home.