Yesterday the House passed an amendment, sponsored by Rep. Chris Shays, to reconstitute the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group--which produced what President Bush calls "Plan B-H." Last year, many Republicans hoped that the ISG would give the White House an opening to shut down the war. Instead we got "the surge." Will it work this time?

It passed 355-69. Of the 69 No votes, 55 were Republicans. Get the tally here.

Here's Rep. Tom Davis (R.-VA), supporting the Shays amendment:

U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Multi-National Force Commander General David Petraeus will provide an assessment of Iraq this fall. The assessment will include the military, economic and political situation in Iraq. The assessment will be a key determinant for future U.S. involvement.

The debate over what to do in Iraq will continue and the Crocker-Petraeus assessment will be challenged. If the report is positive Crocker and Petraeus must provide specific signs of progress and lay out in detail how long and how many troops will be needed in Iraq. If the report is negative then Crocker and Petraeus should provide definitive steps on a phased withdrawal plan that reduces the number of lives lost.

Whatever the outcome of the Crocker-Petraeus assessment we need an independent validation of the assessment. This is why I am supporting Mr. Shays' amendment to reconstitute the Iraq Study Group. This bipartisan group, that provided observations and recommendations to the President last December concerning the situation in Iraq would be reengaged and provide the American people a bipartisan perspective of what we can expect for the future of Iraq.

With all the partisan debate we witness week in and week out in Washington, we must reconstitute this nonpartisan group, which has as its only goal, moving forward American interests.