New lawmakers seek war debate

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Congressional Democrats -- especially new members -- are clamoring for action on the Iraq war, citing polls showing that American voters want to change course, but leaders have delayed significant action.

Senate Democratic leaders announced yesterday that they will postpone for at least another week a debate on war policy, despite efforts by several senators pushing to hold a vote to repeal the 2002 war authorization.

"I would have liked to have done Iraq three weeks ago," said Sen. Jon Tester, Montana Democrat and one of the freshmen calling for a substantive Iraq debate.

During last week's recess, Mr. Tester found that people in his home state are irritated that nothing had been done yet on Iraq.

"My guess is [my constituents] are probably as frustrated as I am that we ought to quit debating about whether we are going to debate and let's debate the issue," he said. "I wanted to debate the escalation because that's what the president put on the floor to debate and that was not done. I don't know why."

Freshman Sen. Bernard Sanders said Mr. Tester -- and other Democrats who grumbled about the lack of debate as they left the Democratic Party's weekly luncheon yesterday -- are not alone in their frustration.

"The American people want us to debate it," said the Vermont independent, who caucuses with the Democrats. "We've got to bring our troops home as soon as we possibly can."

This week, the Senate instead will consider recommendations of the September 11 commission, a bill that passed the House last month. The White House said it will veto the measure if it allows airport screeners to unionize -- a move the administration says could delay the agency's ability to respond quickly to threats.

Republicans said they will try to strip that provision from the bill and, if their efforts fail, then they will support a Bush veto.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said he is working with Republican leaders to find the proper time to debate the war. Instead of attaching the 2002 revote to the pending September 11 bill, as several prominent party members wanted, Democrats are still in talks over the best way forward.