(Washington, D.C.)  Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers released the following statement today after voting against the Iraq Emergency Supplemental bill:

“This emergency supplemental bill sends the wrong message to our troops and our enemies. Our troops need to know that America stands behind them and the cause for which they are risking their lives. What we need is a plan for victory in Iraq. Establishing arbitrary timetables, restricting funding, and micromanaging the war is not a plan for victory. This bill jeopardizes the ability of our troops to do their job, while simultaneously emboldening the enemy.

“Billions of dollars in funding for projects unrelated to the war have found their way into this bill, one of which is funding for Secure Rural Schools. While I fully support and have fought for an extension of rural county payments, I do not believe this bill is the vehicle to restore funding to this crucial program. The President plans to veto this bill, which means we must find a different way to see that rural county payments are extended.”