House leaders remained short of a majority for a controversial war spending bill, leadership aides said today, despite the support of several previously uncommitted Democrats.

The House was poised to vote on the $124.3 billion bill (HR 1591) on Friday, and aides expressed confidence it would get the 218 votes required for passage.

The measure would pay for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus billions for non-war programs. It would require the withdrawal of all but a vestige of the current U.S. force in Iraq by August 2008. It also would set minimum readiness standards for those forces before they deploy, though the president could waive those requirements.

Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee was to mark up its $121.6 billion version, which contains a provision requiring U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq within four months of enactment. The measure would set a goal of completing the withdrawal of most troops by March 2008.

The White House has threatened to veto the House measure because of its Iraq provisions and the extra spending. Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman expressed similar concerns about the Senate measure.