While the AP spent tonight reporting on the passing of the Patriot Act as a major victory for Republicans, the Washington Post was busy getting an article ready for tomorrow’s print edition. That article talks about a House GOP effort to block the Dubai ports deal:
Efforts by the White House to hold off legislation challenging a Dubai-owned company’s acquisition of operations at six major U.S. ports collapsed yesterday when House Republican leaders agreed to allow a vote next week that could kill the deal.
Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) will attach legislation to block the deal today to a must-pass emergency spending bill funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A House vote on the measure next week will set up a direct confrontation with President Bush, who sternly vowed to veto any bill delaying or stopping Dubai Ports World’s purchase of London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steamship Co
Attaching this to the Iraq and Afghanistan funding bill is an excellent move. Bush vows to veto and legislation blocking the ports deal but will he do it when it also means vetoing the funding for his wars? This will definitely set the stage for a show down between the White House and both sides of the aisle in Congress on this very important issue.
Of course tomorrow can always bring something new and I can almost hear it now. They will try to spin this into being partisan politics that is to blame on the Democrats. Not sure how yet but they will find a way.