House Republicans will huddle on Thursday to discuss their members’ position on Libya a day after unexpectedly withdrawing a resolution disapproving of the conflict. Speaker John Boehner conceded to reporters that many House Republicans are concerned by the military operation and called on President Obama to “step up” his explanations for the conflict.
On Wednesday schedulers abruptly canceled a vote on a resolution calling on the US to withdraw all forces from the conflict. The measure’s sponsor, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), told reporters he believed House leaders pulled the legislation after realizing it might succeed with Republican backing.
“They changed their mind,” he said after it was withdrawn on Wednesday. “They felt, well, it’s going to pass.”
The official explanation for the withdrawal was that House leaders wanted to get more details from the White House on Libya, but Speaker John Boehner told reporters on Thursday that the Republican caucus was indeed conflicted over many of America’s military actions abroad.
“I think there’s a lot of concern given the budget deficit and given our debt. I think that every penny congress spends is getting a lot more scrutiny,” he said. “Members are a bit weary about the amount of money we’ve spent in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and that were spending in Libya, and as a result really are wondering what’s our vital national security interest there.”
He called on President Obama to increase his efforts to explain the conflicts to the American people in order to prevent a public backlash.
“The doubt that our members have are quite frankly reflecting what they’re hearing from their constituents,” he said, “The president really does need to step up and help the American people understand why these missions are vital to the national security interest of our country.”
Asked whether Kucinich’s resolution would have passed, Boehner said that the issue would be resolved after discussing Libya with the Republican caucus on Thursday. Other members are also floating legislation disapproving of the American mission in Libya, but Kucinich may be able to use procedural measures to bring up his resolution eventually – with or without the House GOP’s approval.
Kucinich and a number of lawmakers from both parties have argued that without a resolution from Congress backing military action in Libya, the president’s actions are illegal under the War Powers Act. No administration, Obama’s included, has declared they consider the law constitutional.
“I know what’s going on with respect to our presence in Libya and I also know that it’s unconstitutional and I also know that the administration knows better,” Kucinich said on Wednesday.
