From Congressional Quarterly:

“The measure also contains a continuing appropriations resolution that would temporarily fund the government through December 14. The current continuing resolution (PL 110-92) expires November 16. The continuing resolution in this agreement would allow the Pentagon to spend prorated portions of the $70 billion FY 2007 bridge fund for Iraq operations.”

That seems like money for the Iraq War for at least another month.

This vote isn't anything new. Since he's been elected Blumenauer has never voted for any DOD funding bill. He seems to be using his opposition to military funding to make it look like he's finally standing up to the Bush administration. Where was this backbone earlier this week when he was the only Congressman from Oregon who voted against considering the Cheney impeachment bill? It looks like this just a conversation changer.

I think that CQ story is either out of date or is inaccurate. It is my understanding that the regular DOD appropriations bill did not contain any funding to continue the war. In fact, it actually ended the ability of the Pentagon to use slush funds that were provided in prior bills that could otherwise have been redirected to continue the war effort. Besides, Congress appropriated nearly $100 billion for the war effort in late May (DeFazio, Blumenauer, Hooley and Wu all voted no). The war is costing around $10 billion a month. Therefore, there isn't any need for additional funding this month or next. The previously appropriated money should last into early next year. And, as the Oregonian story mentioned, there will be a vote on another bill with a timeline to end the war perhaps as early as Friday. This vote will be the real test of Congress' commitment to ending the war.

Standing up to the Bush administration? Blumenauer? Ha!

Too bad there's nothing on Blue Oregon about Blumenauer's failed effort to unite the party around supporting Bush's trade policy. Blumenauer helped broker the deal to include pathetic language around workers rights in the Peru Free Trade Agreement. Thankfully, fellow Democrats did not fall for this, and a majority voted against this bill this morning. The bill passed, but Defazio got it right:

"The dollar is dropping like a rock. We're borrowing $2 billion a day from overseas to buy things that we don't make in America anymore. We've lost 4 million manufacturing jobs nationally, and 40,000 jobs here in Oregon due to so-called free trade policies. Millions of middle class Americans are seeing their pay go stagnate or decline. Our current trade policy is a dismal failure. It's a failed engine for America's economy."

"Now along comes the Peru Free Trade agreement. The advocates say the burgeoning middle class in Peru are going to be a huge market for the goods that we don't make in America anymore. They tout the breakthroughs on modest environmental and labor provisions, but the destructive multi-national corporate-written chapter 11 core, that lead to the failure of NAFTA, CAFTA, and other trade agreements, remains at the center of this policy. This agreement is by, for, and about Wall Street, plain and simple. It's not in the best interest of American workers, the U.S. economy, or our national security."

"If trade is the engine that drives our economy, we need an overhaul. Instead, with this bill, we're getting a new hood ornament, some side view mirrors and a misbegotten cousin of NAFTA as a trade policy."

Blumenauer has succeeded in helping Bush, dividing the Democrats, screwing over US and Peruvian workers, and ensuring that I will never vote for him again.

Yeah, Earl don't always get it right. He should be calling for Cheney's impeachment for sure. However; he hit the nail on the head in opposition of more war dollars for Bush.