The House on Thursday turned back an effort to prohibit funds for the U.S. military operation against Libya, a win for President Barack Obama in the ongoing constitutional showdown with Congress over war powers.
The vote was 229-199 against the measure that would have barred funds for U.S. participation in the NATO-led mission against Moammar Gadhafi's forces.
Lawmakers argue that Obama violated the 1973 War Powers Resolution that requires a president to seek congressional approval within 60 days of the first military strikes, a move the commander in chief did not make. Instead, Obama informed Congress last month that such assent was unnecessary because the limited U.S. role does not rise to full-blown hostilities.
Incensed House Republicans and Democrats voted overwhelmingly last month to deny Obama the authority to continue the mission, a largely symbolic vote that was still a rebuke to the president. But they stopped short of cutting off funds for the operation, muddling the message from the House.
The signal from the House Thursday also was less clear as lawmakers voted for a measure barring the Pentagon from providing "military equipment, training or advice or other support for military activities," to an outside group, such as rebel forces, for military action in or against Libya. The vote was 225-201.
The intent of the measure is to prohibit aid to the rebels such as weapons and assistance to the Transitional National Council including operational planning. The broad effort also would target contractors in Libya.
"Congress has allowed the president to overreach in Libya," said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., sponsor of the amendment. "We should not be engaged in military action of this level unless it is authorized and funded by Congress."
The votes Thursday ratcheted up the pressure on the administration as Libya remained a stalemate between Gadhafi and rebel forces, and war-weary NATO allies signaled their patience was wearing thin. Italy announced that it was reducing its participation in NATO's campaign by removing an aircraft carrier from the region and pulling thousands of troops home.
Calling the conflict "illegal and unauthorized," Cole said Libya "did not attack us, did not attack NATO ... quite simply, however much we detest Mr. Gadhafi and his regime, we have no reason to be at war."
Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., a co-sponsor of the failed measure, said the House had an "opportunity to stop this unconstitutional war against Libya."
Opponents, such as Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., argued that the United States should be allowed to continue the mission along with its NATO allies. He reminded Republicans that former President Ronald Reagan had challenged Gadhafi, and the U.S. should finish the job.
The House considered the amendments as part of a $649 billion defense spending bill that wouldn't go into effect until Oct. 1. The defense bill includes no funds for the Libyan operation — the Pentagon has said it could cover the expense with existing funds — but the measures would effectively bar funds for the mission.
Last month, the White House put the cost of U.S. military operations in Libya at about $715 million, with the total increasing to $1.1 billion by early September.
Since NATO took command of the Libya operation in early April, the U.S. role has largely been limited to support efforts such as intelligence, surveillance and electronic warfare. The U.S. has launched airstrikes and drone attacks, flying more than 3,400 sorties.