From Susan Cornwell, Reuters: A move to stop funding for President Barack Obama’s military intervention in Libya was narrowly defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, underscoring Congress’ unhappiness with the undeclared war.
Both political parties split on the measure, highlighting how tensions over U.S. involvement — in conjunction with NATO — in Libya’s civil war have crossed party lines and created unusual alliances.
Republicans and Democrats argued that President Obama violated the U.S. Constitution and the 1973 War Powers Resolution by failing to secure congressional authorization for U.S. military operations in the north African country.
The House did vote, 225-201, to bar any money in the defense spending bill from being spent on military equipment or training for Libyan rebels. The measure also would have to get Senate approval and be signed by Obama before becoming law. . . .
The House, in a 316-111 vote, also approved a measure barring the Pentagon from using funds from the 2012 defense spending bill on anything that violates the War Powers Resolution, which requires the president to seek congressional approval within 60 days of committing U.S. forces to a conflict. . . .
On a vote of 199-229, the House rejected the proposal to block defense funds in fiscal year 2012, which begins October 1, for U.S. military participation in the NATO-led mission against Gaddafi’s forces. . . .
The House has held several votes on the Libyan operation. Last month it defeated another move to curb the intervention, while also refusing to formally authorize the U.S. participation. The Senate has yet to take any votes on the war, although a resolution to authorize the U.S. role has passed a committee. (graphic: patentdocs.org)