On Friday, Grand Rapids Congressional Representative Vern Ehlers voted to continue the occupation of Iraq by voting against a supplemental spending bill that sets a September 2008 deadline for the United States to withdraw from Iraq. In voting against the bill, Ehlers joined nine Michigan Republicans in a 218-212 vote. According to recent polls, 25% of Michigan residents want the United States out of Iraq immediately while another 33% want the United States out within the next two to three years. Despite this, Representative Ehlers continues to support the occupation of Iraq, stating recently in the media that it would be "stupid" to "pull out" of Iraq. Since 2002 when Ehlers voted to support the invasion of Iraq, Representative Ehlers has voted in favor of every funding request and has remained committed to the occupation of Iraq. An examination of his statements and votes over the past four years shows that Ehlers has been a consistent supporter of the war despite his alleged desire to "end this conflict and stop the casualties."

However, the bill has little chance of becoming law, with President George W. Bush announcing on Friday that he will veto the bill if it makes it to his desk. President Bush stated that "a narrow majority in the House of Representatives abdicated its responsibility by passing a war spending bill that has no chance of becoming law, and brings us no closer to getting our troops the resources they need" while asserting that if a bill is not passed by April 15 that it will bring "hardships" to US soldiers serving in Iraq. Many in the antiwar movement have also criticized the bill, arguing that it supports the continued occupation of Iraq and gives President Bush the money that he requested for the war. In this sense, the bill is little more than theater and is a convenient tool being used to position the Democratic Party as an "antiwar" party despite the fact that even if the bill passes the withdrawal of United States' troops from Iraq would not begin for over a year. In fact, the bill increases the costs of President Bush's initial $103 billion request by adding $21.3 billion to the bill in the form of earmarks and add-ons designed to buy the votes of Democrats who did not initially support it. Similarly, statements in the bill opposing torture and calling for President Bush to report to Congress on the progress of the war have no teeth. In the end, the bill--like the "non-binding" resolution promoted by the Democrats in February--will do nothing to end the war and is instead a product of posturing and distortions designed to shift focus away from their ongoing support for the war.