House panel OKs bill to slash UN funds

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

A deeply divided House panel on Thursday approved a Republican bill that would slash U.S. contributions to the United Nations, rejecting Democratic complaints that the measure would end American involvement in the world peacekeeping body and deliver a devastating financial blow.

One week after cutting $50 million for a U.N. organization that helps women and children in developing countries, the House Foreign Affairs Committee targeted the billions of dollars the United States contributes to the United Nations. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the committee chairwoman and a fierce critic of the United Nations, argued that the legislation would give the United States leverage in pushing for change at the U.N.

“We will never achieve lasting, sweeping reforms if the U.S. keeps paying in full what the U.N. dictates to us, with no consequences for the U.N.’s failures,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “We need a game-changer.”

The panel approved the bill on a party-line 23-15 vote. The action came despite Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s opposition and her vow to recommend to President Barack Obama that he veto the legislation.

That may not be necessary, however, as it’s unclear when the full House will consider the measure, and it has little chance in the Democratic-led Senate.