In the face of a rumor spreading through the Internet and
on college campuses that President Bush wants to reinstate
the draft if he is re-elected, the House on Oct. 5
overwhelmingly voted to kill legislation that would have
done just that. The vote was 402-2 against a bill sponsored
last year by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. Rangel’s measure
would have required men and women aged 18-26 to undergo two
years of military or civilian service. President Bush also
weighed in against a draft. On Oct. 4, he said, “We will
not have a draft so long as I am president of the United
States.” And on the 5th, he said of Rangel’s legislation,
“If this bill were presented to me, I would veto it.”
Voting for the bill were Representatives John Murtha,
D-Pa., and Pete Stark, D-Calif.