Speaker Boehner’s Libya Resolution Passes House

Rep. Dennis  Kucinich (D-OH) authored a resolution a few weeks ago to require the  president to halt the involvement of the U.S. in the Libya conflict. Initially,  the House planned to consider the Kucinich resolution on Wednesday. But quickly,  the GOP leadership realized that if the House worked its will, it’s likely the  lawmakers would adopt Kucinich’s plan.

Even though many rank-and-file lawmakers agreed with Kucinich, the GOP  majority was reluctant to have a liberal, Democratic Congressman take the lead  on this issue. Secondly, some feared Kucinich’s resolution went too far,  mandating a withdrawal when Congress had failed to consult top commanders in the  field. Plus, House Republicans certainly didn’t want to debate the Libya issue  on the same day the entire GOP Conference huddled with Mr. Obama at the White  House on the debt ceiling. Third, there was worry that a U.S. withdrawal could  harm the viability of NATO. (emphasis mine)

Libya is falling apart, and I shall not support our President’s violation of our law, the War Powers Act of 1973. Speaker Boehner Resolution on Libya – On Friday, June 3, the House approved H. Res. 292 by a vote of 268-145-1, I was one of 10 Republicans who voted “No.”
The resolution would establish that the President has not asked for congressional authorization, and the Congress has not granted it.  H. Res. 292 would reassert Congress’ constitutional role on funding, would require the President to provide within 14 days information on the mission that should have been provided from the start, and would reaffirm the vote Congress took last week that says there should be no troops on the ground.  I voted “No” because we are all aware of these facts as we have seen the Libya operation reach Day 74, as of this vote. By law the President was to come to Congress at or near Day 60, which he did not do. The time for requesting more reports is long past. I shall not see us commit our most precious resources, the American fighting men and women, into another undefined combat theater of operations. Libya is becoming a classic “mission creep” operation.

– Kucinich War Powers Resolution – On
Friday, June 3, H. Con. Res. 51 failed to pass the House by a vote of 148-265, I voted “Yes.”  The bill would direct the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from Libya within 15 days of adoption. This bill was in keeping with the letter of the law, the War Powers Act of 1973. ( emphasis mine)