THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2007
NEWS
9A
》 CONGRESS
Anti-war Democrats support bill for returning U.S. troops
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Three leading House anti-war Democrats said they now back a $50 billion bill that funds the war but calls for most troops to come home by December 2008. Their support paves the way for the bill's passage Wednesday.
stists able in be non-but dated here avant
The trio, California Reps, Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters, represent a liberal anti-war caucus that last week expressed opposition to the measure on the grounds it was too soft and did not demand an end to combat.
The bill requires that President Bush initiate troop withdrawals within 30 days of its passage with the goal of bringing home most soldiers and Marines by Dec. 15, 2008.
The White House said Bush would veto the bill if it comes to him. Presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino called the legislation the "height of irresponsibility," charging Democrats with merely trying to "appease radical groups" such as MoveOn.org and Code Pink.
"Once again, the Democratic leadership is starting this debate with a flawed strategy, including a withdrawal date for Iraq, despite the gains our military has made over the past year, despite having dozens of similar votes in the past that have failed, and despite their pledge to support the troops"
The money included in the bill represents about a quarter of Bush's $196 billion war spending request 2008 budget year.
she said. "Democrats believe that these votes will somehow punish the president, but it actually punishes the troops."
A provision added to the bill, to satisfy liberal caucus members, states that the primary purpose of the $50 billion included in the bill "should be to transition the mission" and redevelop troops in Iraq, "not to extend or prolong the war."
The measure is largely a symbolic jab at Bush, who has already begun withdrawing some troops but fiercely rejects the notion of setting a timetable for the war.
"While this bill is not perfect, it is the strongest Iraq bill to date," the Democratic trio wrote in a joint statement. "This is the first time that this Congress has put forth a bill that ties funding to the responsible redeployment of our troops, and it also includes language mandating a start date for the president to begin the redeployment of our brave men and women."
Woolsey, Lee and Waters said they remained disappointed that the 2008 date was a nonbinding goal that Bush could ignore. But, they said they realized the provision made it more likely that the Senate could pass it.
"This is a concrete step in the right direction, and an important marker for this Congress to lay down," they wrote.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters on Wednesday that he anticipates the bill will pass.
Similar legislation has repeatedly passed along party lines in the House only to sink in the Senate, where Democrats hold a razor-thin majority and 60 votes are needed to overcome procedural hurdles.
It is expected that if the measure fails in the Senate, Democrats will not consider Bush's war spending request until next year.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that if it does pass and Bush rejects the bill, "then the president won't get his $50 billion."
The money included in the bill represents about a quarter of Bush's $196 billion war spending request for the 2008 budget year, which began Oct. 1.
》 SUPREME COURT
Bush welcomes back Michael Mukasey
ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Bush, right, watches as Chief Justice John Roberts, left, participates in a ceremonial swearing-in of new Attorney General Michael Mukasey, center, Wednesday at the Justice Department in Washington. Mukasey promised to make sure the *Justice Department* follow an "unsurpassing alliance" to the law and the Constitution.
WASHINGTON — President Bush welcomed Michael Mukasey back into government Wednesday and promised to help the new attorney general rebuild the top leadership of the beleaguered Justice Department.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Speaking at Mukasey's ceremonial oath-taking, Bush said the retired federal judge "will bring clear purpose and resolve" to the agency.
"As he embarks on his new responsibilities, Michael Mukasey has my complete trust and confidence," Bush told a packed ceremony at the Justice Department's Great Hall. Agency employees filled the hall and lined the balcony to watch their new boss take the ceremonial oath from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Bush also promised to announce today nominees to fill some of the dozen vacant senior leadership jobs in the department, which has been in a state of upheaval since a series of controversies — including the dismissals of federal prosecutors — led to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
When Bush praised Gonzales as a man of integrity and decency, Justice Department employees responded with sustained applause. It got even louder moments later after Mukasey took the oath, formally ending the Gonzales chapter in the agency's history.
Mukasey, who also worked in the Justice Department early in his career as a trial prosecution in New York, said "it's great to be back."
cation of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it."
He promised to make sure the Justice Department follows an "unswerving allegiance" to the law and the Constitution.
Though he was officially sworn in last week to begin work, Mukasey said he did not feel he had become the attorney general until taking the oath in front of his employees.
He said he would "ask myself in every decision I make whether it helps you to do that, to take the counsel not only of my own insights but also of yours, and to pray that I can help give you the leadership you deserve."
Mukase, 66, inherits *a justice*
Department struggling to restore
"My job involves not only an oath, but also a pledge, which I now
give you," Mukasey told the 110,000 Justice employees nationwide, some of whom watched on the department's internal TV system.
its independent image with more than a dozen vacant leadership jobs and little time to make many changes before another president takes office. He now has 14 months to turn it around after almost a year of scandal that forced Gonzales to quit and cast doubt on the government's ability to prosecute cases fairly.
"And that is to use all of the strength of mind and body that I have to help you to continue to protect the freedom and the security of the people of this country, and their civil rights and liberties, through the neutral and evenhanded appli-
An internal justice inquiry is investigating charges that, under
Gonzales, politics were allowed to influence decisions about prosecuting cases or hiring career attorneys. The allegations stemmed from an ongoing congressional inquiry of last year's firings of nine U.S. attorneys, and prompted questions about Gonzales' honesty.
Gonzales did not attend the ceremony, which lasted only about 14 minutes.
NATION
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Governor abandons illegal immigrant driver's license plan
WASHINGTON — New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced Wednesday he was abandoning a plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, but said that the federal government had "lost control" of its borders and left states to deal with the consequences.
"I have concluded that New York state cannot successfully address this problem on its own," Spitzer said at a news conference after meeting with members of the state's
congressional delegation.
Spitzer said overwhelming opposition led to his decision.
The Democratic governor introduced the plan two months ago with the goal of increased security, safer roads and an opportunity to bring immigrants "out of the shadows." Opponents charged the scheme would make it easier for would-be terrorists to get identification, and make the country less safe.
The decision is another example of the roadblocks that high-profile immigration reforms have
faced this year. Less than five months ago, Congress failed to pass legislation that would legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants and fortify the border with Mexico.
"The federal government has lost
control of its borders, has allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to enter our country and now has no solution to deal with it," Spitzer said.
Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff called Spitzer's reversal on the license issue "a good development" and said immigration is a federal issue for which his department has to "ramp up enforcement."
KU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE The University of Kansas
Career Carnival
November 16,2007
Kansas Union,Ballroom
10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
- Meet with BSW, MSV & Ph.D. admissions staff.
* Find out about career options in social work.
- For more information go to:
http://www.socwel.ku.edu/careercarnival/
- See what social workers do!