Sen. Salazar pushes for vote on troop withdrawal bill

Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., at a news conference at his office in Denver, Friday, May 18, 2007. (Photo: Ed Andrieski/AP)

In the latest effort to change Iraq war policy, Sen. Ken Salazar moved Thursday to force a Senate vote on a bill requiring President Bush to produce a plan for withdrawing troops.

Salazar, a Colorado Democrat, spearheaded a bipartisan group in introducing legislation that orders the Bush administration to submit that plan to Congress within 60 days. An identical measure passed the House Tuesday on a 377-46 vote.

"It's an important step to help move the ball forward," said Salazar spokeswoman Stephanie Valencia.

But whether the initiative will go anywhere isn't clear.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., hasn't decided whether to allow a vote on the bill, said Reid spokesman Jim Manley. Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky also could block a vote.

Reid has said he wants a finite date for withdrawing troops. The measure lacks such a date.

Republican Sen. Wayne Allard of Colorado hasn't yet reviewed the bill, said spokesman Steve Wymer.

"He does strongly maintain that the generals and commanders on the ground need to make the strategic decisions regarding our troop movements and levels," Wymer said.

The Senate version of the bill is co-sponsored by four Republicans, including Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, and three other Democrats, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

Because the House already approved identical legislation, passage in the Senate would send it to Bush.

In the House, Democratic Reps. Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs and John Salazar of Manassa and Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave of Fort Morgan voted for the legislation. Voting against it were Republican Reps. Tom Tancredo of Littleton and Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs and Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Golden Democrat, did not vote.

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