House Passes Short-Term War Funding

Congress voted 221-205 last night to pump $40 billion into the war in Iraq—only enough to fund combat operations until July.  An additional $56 billion would be released contingent on the Iraqi government's progress. The bill omits any timetable for withdrawal, but sets the scene for another showdown with President Bush, who's promised to veto it.

Rep. John Murtha, a leading opponent of the war, tells CNN the ball is in the Iraqis' court. "Every time the Iraqis don't do something Americans are put in the killing zone," he said. House Minority Leader John Boehner accused the Democrats of  "playing political games while our troops are fighting for freedom." (More Democratic Congress stories.)