War foe may block funding

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Rep. David R. Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, yesterday threatened unilaterally to block President Bush's $189 billion emergency war-funding bill to force a U.S. pullout from Iraq and called for levying a surtax to cover the war's costs.

Mr. Obey, breaking with the Democratic leadership that has failed repeatedly to end the Iraq war, said unless Mr. Bush establishes a goal to abort combat operations in Iraq by January, he would act alone to cut off war spending.

"Future generations should not be saddled with paying for an ill-advised war in Iraq that seems to be never-ending," said the Wisconsin Democrat, who could use his powerful post to lock up the funding bill in committee. "If this war is important enough to fight, then it ought to be important enough to pay for."

The proposed income-tax surcharge — a progressive tax ranging from 2 percent to about 15 percent — would net $150 billion a year to cover the cost of the war in Iraq, said Mr. Obey.

The 4½ years of war has cost a total of about $450 billion.

Mr. Obey's proposals did not target the war in Afghanistan, which he said was a justifiable war because the Taliban supported al Qaeda before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack.

"It is to draw a meaningful line in the sand," said Rep. Jim McGovern, Massachusetts Democrat and an outspoken war critic. Mr. McGovern and Rep. John P. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, were at Mr. Obey's side when he announced the surtax plan.

The tax plan got a cool reception from Democratic leaders in both chambers. But they were open to cutting off war funds, a politically dangerous stance gaining acceptance, especially in the Senate.

"Just as I have opposed the war from the outset, I am opposed to a draft, and I am opposed to a war surtax," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat. "The choice is between a Democratic plan for responsible redeployment of our troops and the president's plan for a 10-year war in Iraq. We must end this war."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, said Mrs. Pelosi's opposition to the tax was "good enough for me." He said no other strategy to challenge war policy, including denying funds, is "off the table" as the Senate took up the defense appropriations bill yesterday and later with the emergency war-funding bill.