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House Passes $87 Billion Iraq Bill

Aired October 17, 2003 - 14:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And this just in to CNN. we are being told the house has passed the $87 billion package for moneys headed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Our Jonathan Karl on the Hill with more. What does it all mean, Jon?
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, this was an overwhelming victory in the House, 303 voting yes on that package, only 125 voting no.

A couple significant things about this. One is that as far as Democrats go, a majority of Democrats voted against this, which is a pretty extraordinary measure because although many Democrats have been critical of the administration's handling of Iraq, this is a vote against, not only the money for rebuilding Iraq, but also the money for the troops that are in Iraq, including money for their security and their safety. So majority of Democrats voting against this.

The other thing that is significant is that this bill over in the House does not include the provision the White House did not want, which is loans. This is money that would be strictly for rebuilding of Iraq in the form of a grant. No loans. This was, in effect, almost exactly what the White House wanted to see passed.

As you know, over in the Senate, that is not the case. The Senate will have a final vote later today. They have already voted to insert a provision the White House strongly objects to, making $10 billion of this money a loan that Iraq would have to repay eventually. So a victory for the White House over in the House, a pretty overwhelming one at that.

PHILLIPS: Congressional correspondent Jon Karl, thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT WWW.FDCH.COM






Aired October 17, 2003 - 14:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And this just in to CNN. we are being told the house has passed the $87 billion package for moneys headed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Our Jonathan Karl on the Hill with more. What does it all mean, Jon?
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, this was an overwhelming victory in the House, 303 voting yes on that package, only 125 voting no.

A couple significant things about this. One is that as far as Democrats go, a majority of Democrats voted against this, which is a pretty extraordinary measure because although many Democrats have been critical of the administration's handling of Iraq, this is a vote against, not only the money for rebuilding Iraq, but also the money for the troops that are in Iraq, including money for their security and their safety. So majority of Democrats voting against this.

The other thing that is significant is that this bill over in the House does not include the provision the White House did not want, which is loans. This is money that would be strictly for rebuilding of Iraq in the form of a grant. No loans. This was, in effect, almost exactly what the White House wanted to see passed.

As you know, over in the Senate, that is not the case. The Senate will have a final vote later today. They have already voted to insert a provision the White House strongly objects to, making $10 billion of this money a loan that Iraq would have to repay eventually. So a victory for the White House over in the House, a pretty overwhelming one at that.

PHILLIPS: Congressional correspondent Jon Karl, thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT WWW.FDCH.COM