Senate next after House backs Obama on rebel aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's request for congressional backing to train and arm rebels battling Islamic State militants in Syria is halfway home after easy approval by the GOP-controlled House sent the measure to the Senate, where leaders in both parties say its passage is ensured.
Obama won support from staunch Republicans who typically are reflexively against him and lost the votes from some of his most loyal Democratic allies in the 273-156 House tally Wednesday.
Top leaders of both parties stood with him despite reservations that Obama's strategy of arming moderate rebel groups could backfire or won't be enough to blunt the advance of Islamic State forces.
A Senate vote is expected Thursday on the measure, which was added to a spending bill to keep the government running into December.
