Cole: "Congress Should Not Micromanage the War"

Cole opposes Majority's Emergency Spending Bill that sets benchmarks for withdrawal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Tom Cole, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, today strongly opposed H.R. 1591, the Majority's emergency spending bill. This bill includes money to be allocated to troops only if arbitrary deadlines for withdrawal out of Iraq included in the spending bill are met.

"This bill ties the hands of our Commander in Chief by micromanaging the war from Washington. We ought to be supporting our men and women on the ground in Iraq and giving them what they need instead of looking over their shoulders and calling the plays from here," Congressman Cole said. "We have a moral responsibility to take care of our soldiers, and we should provide them with the bullets and helmets they need to protect themselves and complete the mission without delay or strings attached."

The emergency spending bill passed by a narrow vote of 218 to 212 in large part because it included $20 billion dollars of pork projects used to secure votes from majority members on the fence about the bill.

"Our men and women in uniform sacrifice their lives to protect our freedoms. They should never be used as bargaining chips to acquire funds for Members' individual pet projects," Cole continued. "The priority of this country should always be the defense of this country. Our troops can't defend this country without resources and equipment and they can't fight the enemy if we hamstring them and make them fight with one arm tied behind their back."

Unfortunately H.R. 1591 passed the House, but is expected to die in the Senate. The President has stated that he will veto the bill should it ever make it to his desk.

###