Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Dems Deny Obama Funds to Close Gitmo

House Democrats say president needs to come up with a plan first

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted May 5, 2009 2:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama's request for $80 million to close Guantanamo Bay was cut from the House version of a war spending bill unveiled yesterday, CNN reports. Democratic lawmakers, whose bill totaled $94.2 billion, said if the president wants money to close Guantanamo Bay then he'll first have to come up with a plan for doing so.

The administration would be welcome to ask for the funds when it has a more concrete plan for closing the center and moving its prisoners, said Democratic House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin. A spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denied there was any rift with the administration and said the House would continue to work with Obama toward closing the detention facility.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

A guard talks to a Guantanamo detainee in the open yard in Camp 4 detention center on the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, FILE)

Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.) called for President Obama to come up with a firmer plan to close Guantanamo and move its detainees. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson, File)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

When they have a plan, they're welcome to come back and talk to us about it.
- House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 8 comments

lindamae

May 6, 2009 5:25 AM CDT

Perhaps the American public has finally grasped the fact that some of those at GITMO are dangerous.

sailor86

May 6, 2009 2:59 AM CDT

Wait a minute. Bombing a prison to get their Muslim buddy out? Why haven't they done that at Guantanamo Bay? We have supermax facilities here in the States and I'm pretty sure the public is kept out of harm's way. And perks? What about that waterboarding? Sign me up for that.

DeniseVB

May 5, 2009 10:25 AM CDT

We need accountability and a plan. Leave Gitmo open for now, we have more important things to take care of with that money.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

CNN (Source Grid »)

Obama rebuffed over Gitmo funds
Wall Street Journal

House Democrats skeptical on Obama's Afghanistan plan
The Hill

Politics • World

House Appropriations Committee • Guantanamo Bay • Guantanamo prisoners • House Democrats • war funding • President Obama

More Newser Stories

Al-Qaeda Magazine Found in Gitmo

Prosecutor reveals embarrassing security breach

(NEWSER) - A copy of al-Qaeda's Inspire magazine somehow found its way into a terror suspect's cell at Guantanamo Bay. The security breach was revealed at a hearing yesterday by a prosecutor defending the prison camp's plan to review mail between prisoners and their attorneys, the Miami Herald reports. The magazine, launched in 2010 , glorifies al-Qaeda actions including the 9/11 attacks and offers bomb-making tips and messages of support for Gitmo inmates. More»

Guantanamo Bay Turns 10

And appears no closer to closure than it was 2 years ago

(NEWSER) - Today is a birthday, but probably not one you want to celebrate: Guantanamo Bay is turning 10, an anniversary that will be marked by protests here and abroad. Ten years ago, the first 20 detainees were flown to the detention facility in chains. Several of those 20 remain at Gitmo today, NPR notes. Of the 171 detainees still held at Guantanamo, just 36 will likely be given a military trial. Another 48 will, seemingly, be detained indefinitely; the US lacks a sufficient amount of evidence to try them, but insists they are too dangerous to release. More»

US May Swap Gitmo Inmates for Taliban Peace Deal

Negotiations near breakthrough, US officials say

(NEWSER) - After many months of secretive negotiations, peace talks between the US and the Taliban are at a turning point, reports Reuters , which cites senior US officials speaking under condition of anonymity. The US is considering transferring Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to Afghan custody in return for concessions from the Taliban, possibly including a denunciation of terrorism and a willingness to enter talks with Hamid Karzai's government, the officials say. More»

US Defends Conditions Inside Gitmo

Military releases rare photos of cell to prove conditions OK in 'Five Echo'

(NEWSER) - To defend conditions in a disciplinary block at Guantanamo Bay prison, US military officials have released photos of the rarely seen interior, reports the AP . "Five Echo," a section of the prison used for "noncompliant" detainees, had been accused of violating Geneva Conventions by lawyers for some of the detainees, who said its cells are so small small, lights are so bright, and air quality so poor that they are inhumane. "Five Echo is really a throwback to the bad old days at Guantanamo," said an attorney representing three inmates. More»

Democrats to Obama: Use the 14th Amendment

Leaders in the House say he shouldn't rule it out

(NEWSER) - Desperate times: Some high-ranking Democrats say President Obama should invoke the 14th Amendment and raise the debt ceiling on his own. James Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat, made the pitch to the Democratic Caucus this morning, reports the Hill . By doing so, Obama would bring "needed stability to our financial markets," said Clyburn. Members responded with applause, said caucus chair Rep. John Larson. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Dems Deny Obama Funds to Close Gitmo