House rejects effort to prohibit funds for Libya

The House has rejected an effort to prohibit funds for the U.S. military operation against Libya.

The vote was 229-199 on Thursday. Republicans and Democrats had complained that the conflict was illegal because President Barack Obama had never sought congressional approval for the operation.

But the House turned back an amendment that would have barred the use of taxpayer dollars to continue U.S. participation in the NATO-led mission.

The measure was offered to a $649 billion defense spending bill that wouldn't go into effect until Oct. 1.