US House votes to block funding for Libya
Aljazeera.net
June 13, 2011
Bill to prohibit funds for US military operations in Libya unlikely to become law, but seen as snub to president.
The US House of Representatives has voted to prohibit the use of funds for US military operations in Libya.
Politicians adopted the amendment to a military appropriations bill by a vote of 248 to 163 late on Monday.
A number of members of Congress have expressed their dissatisfaction at Barack Obama’s, the US president, decision to go ahead with operations in Libya in March and to continue without congressional authorisation.
According to US law, the president must seek congressional authorisation to send US troops into combat and must withdraw the forces within 60 days if Congress has not authorised the military action.
The amendment, introduced by Democratic representative Brad Sherman from California, invokes the War Powers Resolution, a 1973 law that limits presidential powers on sending troops abroad into combat zones without the consent of Congress.
Sherman’s text states that “none of the funds made available by this act may be used in contravention of the War Powers Act.”
Politicians must still approve the appropriations bill as a whole and the measure must still be approved by the Senate.
Al Jazeera Patty Culhane, reporting from New Hampshire, said: “This is going to be a bit of a shock for Obama administration as the vote was so overwhelmingly against allowing him to use the fund in Libya. …
Read on: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/06/20116147535393778.html
