MoveOn Calls For Spending Filibuster

Democratic congressional leaders could have a tough time convincing some anti-war Democrats to back a $522 billion year-end spending bill that includes money for the military, should that money be used for the war in Iraq. MoveOn.org made their job a bit harder Monday by calling on Democratic presidential candidates to filibuster it in the Senate.

"Americans elected a Democratic Congress in 2006 to end the war in Iraq. A blank check for billions in war funding moves us in the wrong direction," said Nita Chaudhary, Campaign Director on Iraq for MoveOn. "Majority Leader Reid and the Democratic leadership should hold the line they've drawn: no war funding without a timeline to end the war.”

Democrats have included $31 billion in the bill for operations in Afghanistan and for additional equipment, according to the Wall Street Journal. The bill will have an additional $17 billion for the Army, and the Washington Post reported that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will try to get that number as high as $70 billion when the legislation makes its way over the Senate.

MoveOn.org will deliver petitions Monday asking the Democratic senators running for president to filibuster the bill if it does not include a timetable for withdrawal. The petitions were signed by 15,000 veterans and military families and will be sent to the offices of Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Barack Obama of Illinois.

"The Senators who are running for President have talked a lot about their leadership on Iraq -- now's the time for them to show it by blocking this bad deal," said Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org’s Executive Director. "The 3.3 million members of MoveOn will be watching the candidates and Congress very closely."

This move could give former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) an obvious opening on the campaign trail, but it might make it a lot harder for lawmakers and aides to enjoy their holiday recess.