House Democrats Schedule Vote On Opposing Bush’s War Escalation

David Espo for AP reports: The Democratic-controlled House is planning to vote next week on opposing President Bush's Iraq troop buildup in a wartime clash between Congress and commander in chief. (…) Bush's revised strategy has sparked strong opposition among Democrats, and officials said that Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer D-Md., had both pledged to their rank-and-file that next week's vote would merely be the first attempt to pressure the president to shift course in the war. Other legislation will be binding, they said. Under House rules, Democratic leaders have the authority to advance a measure to the floor for three days of debate and a vote. (…) "The only people who believe there is a workable military solution for the conflict in Iraq is the Bush administration," said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in announcing legislation that would require Bush to "complete the redeployment" of American troops within a year. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, a Democratic presidential hopeful, joined two other lawmakers in proposing a measure to block Bush from implementing his planned troop increase, and to begin a withdrawal by May 1.