House resolution chides Obama on Libya

WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- The Republican-led U.S. House Friday passed a resolution chiding the Obama administration for not seeking congressional authority for military action in Libya.

However, members rejected a Democratic resolution that would require the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Libya within 15 days, The Hill reported.

Among other things, the resolution, approved on a 268-145 vote, demands more information about the scope, cost and duration of the intervention. Forty-five Democrats joined all but 10 Republicans in favor of the measure offered by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

The House rejected the Democratic resolution from Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. In the 148-265 vote, 144 Republicans and 121 Democrats voted against it, while it picked up support from 87 Republicans and 61 Democrats.

Boehner's resolution, offered as a foil to Kucinich's measure that leaders feared may pass, forced Republicans to acknowledge a general approval of the military action in Libya, despite complaining about Obama's failure to get congressional approval as required by the War Powers Act.

"We must not let our frustration with the president's contempt for Congress cloud our judgment and result in our taking action that would harm our standing, our credibility and our interests in the region," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.

During debate on his bill, Kucinich said Congress must address Obama's violation of the Constitution or risk future violations, The Hill reported.

"If Congress does not challenge a president's dismissal of the clear meaning of Article I section 8, then we will have tacitly endorsed a president's violation of the Constitution, and guaranteed the perpetuation of future constitutional transgressions," he said.