House to Consider Limiting Libya Funds

(Newsroom America) -- The House on Friday is set to consider a bipartisan measure to limit funding for continuing U.S. operations in Libya, a potentially damaging rebuke for a sitting president while American forces are still engaged in a conflict.

There has been rising angst in the House for weeks from Democrats opposed to the Libyan operation and Republicans who cite constitutional issues over President Barack Obama's ongoing commitment to keep U.S. forces engaged there in support of NATO, which was given operational control over the mission earlier this spring, The New York Times said.

Under provisions of the War Powers Resolution, any unauthorized military action overseas must end after 60 days, unless Congress gives the president authorization to continue operations. The law applies to forces engaged in "hostilities," a condition the White House says does not currently exist for U.S. personnel, though that position has been disputed by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and high-ranking legal officials in the administration.

The House action comes as a measure introduced by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., that would authorize continued U.S. operations in Libya for a year without changes is set for a vote Friday. The Times said that measure is expected to fail.

The House bill, introduced by Rep. Thomas Rooney, R-Fla., prohibits the use of funds for military operations in Libya, but would permit funding of support operations like search-and-rescue, surveillance and reconnaissance. Under Rooney's measure, U.S. missile strikes would have to stop, the paper said.

The report said Rooney's bill, which is supported by the GOP leadership, is intended to end the United States' combat role without hampering NATO's efforts. The Democrat-controlled Senate, however, is not expected to pass it.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with a number of Democrats on Capitol Hill and urged them not to vote for the defunding measure.

"She did a really good job of making the administration’s case," Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., said, according to the Times. "She did what the White House should have been doing all along, which is come to us, talk about the situation, tell us what their perspective is, and have a conversation."

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Contact Jon E. Dougherty