N.H., Maine Legislators Continue to Scrutinize Iraq Funding
WASHINGTON – As they continue to scrutinize and debate President Bush’s $87 billion request for Iraq and Afghanistan, many New Hampshire and Maine lawmakers are prepared to support – and even co-sponsor – amendments that would make at least a portion of the money a loan.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has co-sponsored an amendment that would require Iraq to repay $10 billion of the more than $20 billion designated for reconstruction. More than $65 billion is earmarked for military operations.
Although critics of the amendment say Iraq would be unable to pay back the money, Collins said she would like to alleviate some of the United States’ financial burden. She said Iraq has large oil reserves and a highly educated population, which would make it easier to amass the money necessary to repay its debts.
“Ultimately, it will be a wealthy country with the ability to repay the American taxpayer for the help we’re giving now to build a working infrastructure,” Collins said in an interview. “And I think it makes sense from a taxpayer’s perspective to structure $10 billion of the assistance as a loan.”
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) said she supports making Iraq repay even more than $10 billion.
“It balances our need to support the developing self-sufficiency of the Iraqi state with the need to keep American taxpayers from bearing an overly large share of the costs,” Snowe said in a statement.
Some of the $20 billion proposed by the Bush administration would pay for such things as museums and roads. Collins said she decided to offer her amendment because the money could be spent on similar things in the United States.
“Many of my constituents have e-mailed me or called to say that they support my efforts and they are concerned that so much money is going to be used for projects in Iraq, whether it’s new schools or garbage trucks or sewer systems that are needed right here at home,” Collins said.
The only lawmaker from New Hampshire or Maine who expressed opposition to the creation of loans was Sen. John Sununu, a Republican. He said a loan would send the wrong message to the Iraqi people, whom the United States is trying to help.
Sununu added that he expects the Senate to approve most of Bush’s request by the end of the month. He noted that Congress has added extra money to support reserves traveling home from Iraq for vacations.
“We want [the troops] to know that we appreciate the work that they’re doing,” he added.
While the Senate is on recess this week, the House is looking to reduce the total through minor cutbacks. Some lawmakers have targeted such expenses as garbage trucks and the establishment of an Iraqi ZIP code system.
Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.), like many of his colleagues, said designating some portion of the money as a loan is necessary.
“There is increasing desire on the part of members of the House at leastáthat there should be some mechanism for repayment of the reconstruction dollars,” he said.
Granite Staters are asking legitimate questions about the money for Iraq, Bradley said, and he is attempting to convey those concerns on the House floor. Support for U.S. troops remains high among his constituents.
“I think that, for the most part, people are fairly supportive and understand that it’s important that we stay the course and that we succeed in Iraq in order to reduce the threat of terrorism and instability in that region of the world,” Bradley said.
Rep. Charles Bass (R-N.H.) said he supported a loan. Despite public concerns, Bass said he was optimistic the money the United States is spending on Iraq would contribute to a beneficial outcome.
“Having a stable Middle East and winning the war on terrorism is a legitimate sacrifice, if you will, to make over the short term for very significant long term gain,” he said.
The area lawmakers had a mixed reaction to whether the international community would play a larger role, either with financial contributions or troops, in Iraq.
Bradley said it looked as though United Nations members will start providing additional expenses and personnel to aid in the Iraqi effort.
Bass said he expects other countries to aid the reconstruction effort further along in the process, though getting them to do so will be an “uphill battle.” He said leaders of other countries know the United States will foot the bill, so they have little incentive to pitch in.
Collins agreed.
“I am pessimistic about the rest of the world stepping up to the challenge of providing the money to rebuild Iraq,” she said. “I think we’ll get some limited assistance, but not nearly the billions and billions that will be required to accomplish the task. That means the burden is going to fall most heavily on our country and that’s one reason why I think it’s important that part of the cost be born ultimately by the people who are going to benefit – the Iraqi citizens.”
