Sen. Ken Salazar moved today to force a Senate vote on legislation passed in the House that would require President Bush to produce a plan for withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Salazar, a Colorado Democrat, introduced in the Senate the same legislation that passed the House Tuesday on a 377-46 vote. It requires President Bush to craft that plan and submit it to Congress.
“It’s and important step to help move the ball forward,” said Salazar spokeswoman Stephanie Valencia.
There’s no commitment from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to allow a vote on the bill.
“We’re hopeful,” Valencia said.
Reid has said he wants a finite date for withdrawing troops. The measure lacks such a date.
In the House, Democratic Reps. Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs, John Salazar of Manassa and Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave of Fort Morgan voted for the legislation. Reps. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, and Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, opposed. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, did not vote.
The Senate version of the bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, and Mark Pryor, an Arkansas Democrat.
