N.H. Delegation Supports Bush Resolution; Maine Not Committed
WASHINGTON, Oct. 03–New Hampshire lawmakers in the House and Senate openly support a resolution to give President Bush authority to use force against Iraq, while the Maine delegation may not be far behind.
Spokesmen for Maine Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said Thursday afternoon the senators think the administration’s latest compromise resolution is “a step in the right direction” but stopped short of saying they would vote to support it.
Collins “did think the latest bipartisan resolution proposed by the administration is a considerable improvement over previous resolutions,” her spokesman Joe Palmieri, said. “But she’s still reviewing the language of the most current resolution and looking at any alternatives.”
The administration and some congressional leaders reached agreement on a compromise resolution Wednesday that would authorize the president “to use the armed forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to…enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.”
Reps. John Sununu and Charlie Bass, R-N.H., have endorsed Wednesday’s proposal, along with a majority of House Republicans. House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., recently joined the GOP in supporting the plan, all but ensuring that the measure would have enough Democratic support to pass the House next week, when it’s expected to come to the floor.
Both of New Hampshire’s Republican senators also support the resolution, but the Democratic leadership in the Senate has not committed to it. Instead, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said the Senate would be likely to vote on three versions of a resolution to use force against Iraq. The votes could come late next week.
Sen. Judd Gregg was critical of Daschle’s reluctance to support Wednesday’s compromise plan. “Unfortunately, the Democratic leadership of the Senate under Sen. Daschle has decided to be reticent in this area,” said Gregg in a statement. “And I think that is a mistake.”
Spokesmen for Snowe and Collins said the senators are continuing to speak with Democrats and Republicans about possible alternatives to Wednesday’s resolution but thy wouldn’t make their positions known until the issue comes to the floor next week.
“It’s too early to say where she is,” Snowe spokesman Dave Lackey said. “Sen. Snowe is reviewing the resolution, and she will announce her decision when debate starts on the floor.”
A spokesman for Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, said the congressman also was undecided. “He’s carefully examining the resolution, but he hasn’t made up his mind,” Allen spokesman Mark Sullivan said. “But he still feels we should exhaust all of our options in terms of diplomacy and working with our allies before taking any military action against Iraq.”
Some Senate Democrats have criticized Wednesday’s plan as being too broad, while most Republicans say it is an adequate compromise. The resolution encourages the president to “obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council” but does not require U.N. approval. The president would be required to report to Congress within 48 hours of launching any military action to explain why diplomatic means were no longer sufficient to avoid war. He would also have to report to Congress every 60 days while military action continues.
Bass said that such congressional oversight and encouragement to work with the United Nations is a good thing. “I am confident that the president will be successful in his efforts to build support from the United Nations,” he said in a statement. “Nevertheless, if the president decides he needs to act to protect Americans he has the authority under this resolution to do so.”
Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., said Congress must support the president. “The president deserves our support in whatever mission he needs to conduct in Iraq to protect Americans and preserve our national security,” he said in a statement.
Gregg agreed. “I do think it is important that we speak with one voice and [that] we lead the world,” he said. “The president has shown leadership here, and we should support him on it.”
No one would venture a guess as to when the issue might be resolved, though Bush has said he wants a resolution passed before the November election.
“We could be on this for all of October or we could be done next week,” Lackey said. “We’ll see.”
Published in Foster’s Daily Democrat, in New Hampshire.
