* summoned Republicans skeptical of the war to the White House on Wednesday

[Kadie]

Bush Rounds Up G.O.P. Surge Support

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007
By AP/ANNE FLAHERTY

President Bush summoned Republicans skeptical of the war to the White House on Wednesday as Democrats won support from a GOP senator for a resolution expressing opposition to a 21,500 troop buildup in Iraq.

Democratic House and Senate leaders intend to hold votes to gauge GOP opposition to Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq. The Senate leadership is expected by Thursday to propose a resolution denouncing the plan, with debate planned around the same time Bush delivers his State of the Union speech next Tuesday.

Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Republican critic of the administration's Iraq policy and a potential 2008 presidential candidate, is working with Senate Democrats on a resolution opposing Bush's troop buildup, which would give the measure a bipartisan stamp.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the House will follow suit with its own resolution.

The White House said Bush would meet on Wednesday with Republican senators about the president's plans in Iraq. He refused to say who was invited but said that "probably everybody there is at least skeptical" about the buildup. The resolutions would likely be a symbolic expression of Congress but would not affect the Pentagon's war budget or challenge the president's authority over U.S. forces. Such votes, however, could be a shot across the bow to Bush, who said Jan. 10 that the extra troops are needed to protect U.S. interests in Iraq.

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