Iraq war measure does not hinge on troops

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. House Democratic leaders may complete negotiations on a bill to fund the war in Iraq without including timelines for the withdrawal of combat troops.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., said Friday that Democrats could complete negotiations as soon as Monday on the half-trillion dollar spending bill to fund U.S. war efforts.

The measure includes $11 billion more for domestic spending than President Bush requested, The Washington Post said Saturday.

The domestic spending measures target emergency drought relief and the subprime mortgage crisis plaguing the U.S. economy.

Passage of the legislation would mark the third time Democrats failed to force Bush to change course in the war effort in Iraq – something Democratic leaders repeatedly swore to do.

Yet, the bargain suggests that Bush is willing to meet demands to target budget measures to domestic issues, the Post said.

"The way you pass appropriations bills is you get agreement among all the relevant players, among which the president with his veto pen is a very relevant player," Hoyer said. "Everybody knows he has no intention of signing anything without money for Iraq, unfettered, without constraints. I think that's ultimately going to be the result."