Today in Washington D. C. - Nov 16, 2007

UPDATED 10:01 am: From Senate sources: This morning, the Senate is in the middle of a series of important votes prior to Congress’ Thanksgiving recess.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates discussed the consequences of Democrats’ mismanagement of government and military funding yesterday, warning of what would be required to continue the war effort in the absence of a bridge fund. According to Sec. Gates, without bridge funds for the troops, “The military would cease operations at all Army bases by mid-February next year. This would result in the furloughing of about 100,000 government employees and a like number of contractor employees at Army bases. These layoffs would have a cascading effect on depots and procurements. Similar actions would follow for the Marine Corps about a month later.” Sec. Gates also noted that some Defense Department employees be getting pink slips in December without adequate funds.

Even with The New York Times reporting “a sharp decrease in the number of roadside bombs” in Iraq today, Democrats continue their amazing rhetoric to talk down progress in Iraq. During floor debate this morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, “It’s indisputable that the goals of the surge have failed.” No wonder the the latest Gallup poll shows “Americans widely disappointed with Democrats in Congress.”

Investors’ Business Daily takes Democrats to task today for their “shameful attempts to withdraw troops from an active theater of war” and declares this Congress “to be one of the least-accomplished Congresses in the last century.”

On The Floor: In the first vote this morning, the Senate failed, 45-53, to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the GOP emergency supplemental appropriations bill (S. 2340), which would have provided $70 billion in war funding through the spring without having forced deadlines.

Update: On a 53-45 roll call, Democrats fell seven votes short as Republicans effectively blocked a House-passed bill (H.R. 4156) providing $50 billion in emergency funds but also demanding that President Bush agree to the goal of ending most U.S. combat operations by the end of next year. These votes will bring the total of Iraq votes in this Congress to 63.

Update: The Senate also blocked a $286 billion farm bill (H.R. 2419), a blow to farm-state lawmakers, who wanted to give their constituents expanded subsidies before next year's elections. Democrats failed to get the 60 votes they needed to cut off debate on the measure. The final vote was 55-42. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has prevented Republicans from offering amendments to the 1600 page bill.

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