House GOP Plans Friday Libya Vote

Politico reports:

House GOP leaders have scheduled a vote on Friday on U.S. participation in the NATO-led effort to topple Muammar Qadhafi, but what lawmakers will be voting on is still unclear.

Top House Republicans are drafting an alternative proposal to a resolution by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) barring U.S. backing for the NATO campaign, although the language of that Republican proposal was not immediately available.

The House GOP Conference will hold a special meeting this afternoon. Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) has said no decision will be made on what Libya proposals will come to the floor until after that session.

“We’re going to have a conversation with our members today and we’ll see what they have to say,” Boehner told reporters at a Thursday morning press conference. “I expect this issue will be resolved tomorrow.”

“Members are a bit wary about the amount of money that we’ve spent in Iraq in Afghanistan and what we’re spending in Libya and as a result really are wondering what’s our vital national security interest there,” Boehner added. “You know, I think I have a pretty good feel for it, but I really do believe that the president needs to speak out in terms of our mission in Afghanistan, our mission in Iraq, our mission in Libya.” ...