Leaders in the United States Senate committed a disservice to the country Monday.

In an attempt to provide political cover to vulnerable members of both parties facing re-election in 2004, no recorded vote was taken on the Iraqi Supplemental Spending Bill, which will cost U.S. taxpayers $87.5 billion.

The massive spending legislation was passed by a voice vote of as few as five members of the Senate, with West Virginian Robert Byrd the only audible “no.” In other words, four senators saying “yes” OK’d $87.5 billion for the war and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The House approved the legislation, 298-121, Friday. It now goes to the president for his signature.

So much for all the debate about providing some of the money for rebuilding Iraq in the form of loans, which was tossed aside by the voice vote. So much for oversight of spending. So much for accountability. So much for democracy.

It’s easy to understand why senators would like to avoid taking a stand on the legislation. Polls show most Americans don’t support the spending or the grants for an oil-rich country like Iraq. At the same time, they support funding military operations.

The Bush administration put Congress in a bind, threatening a veto if the legislation didn’t match its agenda. That meant no loans to Iraq.

That created a dilemma for many senators who disagree with Bush’s policies in Iraq or wanted money to be provided in the form of loans, but also want to support U.S. soldiers.

The majority of the $87.5 billion – about $66 billion – will be used by the military. Of the remaining allocation, $18.6 billion will go to Iraq’s reconstruction and $1.2 billion to Afghanistan.

Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins were both proponents of requiring Iraq to pay back about $10 billion of the proposed reconstruction money. But, according their offices, both senators – if they had been called upon – would have voted for the spending.

“We have an obligation to ensure that our troops receive the resources they need to do their jobs as effectively and safely as possible, and this bill will help to accomplish that goal,” Collins said in a release.

Both Snowe and Collins have proven themselves willing to take difficult positions and stick their necks out. Neither hesitated when asked to go on the record with their position, and Collins addressed the Senate, making clear her reservations and ultimate support for the legislation.

It’s unfortunate that many of their Senate colleagues decided to duck and cover. The reluctance is easy to understand. Iraq looms large on the election horizon, and incumbents can expect hard questions from opponents and voters and that’s as it should be.

Voice votes only happen when the outcome is almost certain, but Senate opponents of this bill could have demanded a recorded vote even though they knew it was a losing battle. They should have.

We expect senators to stand and be counted, especially on the toughest questions facing the country. It is their duty and their responsibility.


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