Democrats tout tax hike for war

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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5183536.html

Democrats tout tax hike for war
GOP leaders join Pelosi in rejecting the longshot plan

By ANDREW TAYLOR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Arguing it is unfair to continue to pass the cost of the war in Iraq to future generations, three senior House Democrats Tuesday offered a longshot plan to raise taxes to pay for the $150 billion bill for the war in 2008.

At the same time, one of the Democrats, Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, announced he would delay action on the White House's war request for next year, saying he refuses "to continue the status quo."

The tax plan, unveiled by Obey and Reps. John Murtha, D-Pa., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., would require low- and middle-income taxpayers to add 2 percent to their tax bill. Wealthier people would add a 12 to 15 percent, Obey said.

Sponsors of the tax plan appeared more interested in making a point — getting people to focus on the cost of the war — than offering it as a serious proposal.

Top Democrats immediately shot down the idea, and it came under scathing assault from Republicans for linking funding for U.S. troops overseas with tax increases.

"Just as I have opposed the war from the outset ... I am opposed to a war surtax," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,

D-Calif.

The tax surcharge sponsors said the idea is similar to policies put in place to pay for the Vietnam War and World War II. For Vietnam, surcharges equal to between 5 percent and 7.5 percent were in place between 1968 and 1970.

The move to defer action on President Bush's $189 billion war funding request until next year, also announced by Obey, appears to reflect frustration over Democrats' inability to force Bush to roll back the U.S. mission in Iraq. Obey chairs the Appropriations panel, which is responsible for war funding, and his stance seems to ensure that a stand-alone Iraq bill won't pass this year.

Wars cost billions monthly
Murtha, chief author of the Pentagon appropriations bill, said that that measure will instead contain enough money to fund the war until February or March. Democrats hope to send that bill to Bush before a stopgap funding measure expires Nov. 16.

The war in Iraq is costing about $10 billion a month, with Afghanistan and other missions running about $2 billion a month.

Democrats hope their chances of winning a battle with Bush on the war will be better next year, as the election season heats up.

Democrats have also been seeking in recent weeks to contrast the approximately $190 billion cost of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars with the far smaller increases that they want in domestic programs.

Bush has threatened to veto numerous domestic spending bills over Democratic-sought increases totaling $23 billion.