AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq _ Vice President Mike Pence on a surprise visit to Iraq told U.S. troops on Saturday that he wanted them to have a pay raise but Congress was engaged in "partisan politics" instead of doing its job.
He expressed gratitude to the troops at Al Asad Air Base for their service during the visit ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, saying at this "special time of year" they are in the hearts of all Americans.
Pence said the administration would fight to make sure troops had the resources needed for their mission. "But we need Congress to do their job," he said. "The truth is Congress should have finished their work on defense appropriations months ago. But you all know partisan politics and endless investigations have slowed things down in Washington, D.C."
