Russ Feingold: “H.R. 4156, the House-passed bill providing bridge funding for the Iraq war, is unacceptably weak. While I will support…”

“H.R. 4156, the House-passed bill providing bridge funding for the Iraq war, is unacceptably weak. While I will support cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of that bill, my vote should not be misinterpreted as a vote in favor of this bill. By supporting cloture on the motion to proceed, I am voting in favor of the Senate having the opportunity to debate and amend it. I have already filed an amendment to the bill that consists of the Feingold- Reid amendment offered to the Defense Department authorization bill earlier this year. Unfortunately, it appears that the Republicans will not even allow the Senate to have meaningful debate on a war that has no end in sight and that does not have the backing of the American people. But Democrats aren't off the hook either. H.R. 4156 purports to attach some strings to the funding it provides, but those strings are so thin and pliable as to be virtually meaningless. Since Democrats assumed control of Congress with a mandate from the American people, we have made progress toward changing course in Iraq, and I have supported efforts to increase pressure on this administration to listen to the American people. At this point, giving the President money to continue the war while only setting a 'goal' for concluding the redeployment of our troops is insufficient. I am afraid we are moving backwards, not forward, with this new bill.”