House Cheers as Aid Stripped From Saudis
The House of Representatives voted on the $19.5 billion foreign aid bill on Tuesday night, and the results had the pols cheering - literally.
Story Continues Below
Members decided 217-191 to strip monetary aid - and the possibility for millions of dollars in discounts on weapons and training - for the Saudis from the bill.
When the votes were counted, cheers went up from the members.
According to Britain's Guardian newspaper, 60 Republicans broke from the wishes of the White House to go along with the effort by New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, a harsh critic of the Saudis for what he has said is a lack of help in the war on terror.
Nevada Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley summed up the feelings of members voting 'yea': "I don't want my taxpayer dollars going to the Saudis and I don't want anyone else's to."
Some legislators said the Saudis, with the incredible amount of black gold gushing under their sands, shouldn't need one red cent from the U.S.
However, Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., spoke for those who thought the House went too far, especially since the actual money they voted down was a mere $25,000.
Kolbe told Reuters the timing of the House measure "could not be worse."
Reuters wrote, "He acknowledged Saudi Arabia had not always been a model partner in the war on terror but said 'we need all the friends and allies we can get.'"
The White House did salvage one victory in the foreign aid bill: Aid to Egypt was not cut in half, as members led by Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., wished.
Calls placed by Condi Rice and Colin Powell helped. "Without question, the secretary of state ... made it very difficult for us," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., who sponsored the plan with Lantos. "We didn't make law, but hopefully we made a point.
URL:http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/7/16/140322.shtml |
