Democrats draw attention to Iraq with tax-hike bill

Arguing it is unfair to continue to pass the cost of the war in Iraq to future generations, three senior House Democrats on Tuesday offered a long-shot plan to raise taxes to pay for the $150 billion bill for the war in 2008.

At the same time, one of the Democrats, Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, announced he would delay action on the White House's war request for next year, saying he refuses "to continue the status quo."

The tax plan, unveiled by Obey and Reps. John Murtha, D-Pa., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., would require low- and middle-income taxpayers to add 2 percent to their tax bill. Wealthier people would add a 12 to 15 percent surcharge, Obey said.

Sponsors of the tax plan appeared more interested in making a point - getting people to focus on the cost of the war - than offering it as a serious proposal.

Top Democrats immediately shot down the idea, and it came under scathing assault from Republicans for linking funding for U.S. troops overseas with tax increases.

The war in Iraq is costing about $10 billion a month, with Afghanistan and other missions running about $2 billion a month.

The House on Tuesday passed legislation, by a 377-46 vote, that would require President Bush to report to Congress in 60 days, and every 90 days thereafter, on the status of its redeployment plans in Iraq.

The bill was cast by its co-sponsors, Democrats John Tanner of Tennessee and Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, as the first bipartisan compromise on the war. Republicans agreed to swing behind it because they said it encourages Pentagon contingency planning already underway and does not mandate troop withdrawals.

In Colorado's congressional delegation, voting for the measure were Reps. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs; John Salazar, D-Manassa; and Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan. Voting against it were Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Denver; Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton; and Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, missed the vote.

DeGette voted against the legislation because "it doesn't do anything to move the ball forward and end the war in Iraq," said spokesman Kristofer Eisenla. "She's (DeGette) committed to timelines and benchmarks to end the war."

Musgrave said she wants "to see the Iraqi military and political leaders take on a larger role in securing their nation and establishing the rule of law."

"I also want to see our troops come home as soon as possible and want the president and his administration to outline proposals showing how this could happen," Musgrave said.

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