A diverse collection of House Republicans has formed an ad hoc group to negotiate with the White House on a compromise Iraq spending bill, Politico's Ryan Grim reports. The group plans to hold talks with National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, who has been working behind the scenes to cement opposition among Republicans to the spending bill that would require U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq at some point.The pro-war coalition is getting shakier by the day.The group includes five Republicans, diverse in geography and ideology: Reps. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, Charles Boustany of Louisiana, Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, Mac Thornberry of Texas and Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland. Of the five, only Gilchrest broke with his party to support a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
Now, Gilchrest says the group will encourage the White House to compromise on negotiations with Syria and Iran and on setting a date for withdrawal from Iraq. And the group has national security bona fides that will help it be taken seriously....
President Bush has said repeatedly that he'll veto any wartime spending bill that includes a timeline for withdrawal, but the Republican group hopes that he'll be open to other options. Gilchrest, however, is not giving up hope that a deal can be struck between Bush and Democratic congressional leaders, who are pushing a withdrawal timetable.
"It's worth a shot," he said.
--Garance Franke-Ruta
