WASHINGTON — In a legislative stretch, the Communities First Act (H.R. 1869) has gotten tied up in the politics of the war in Iraq.

When President George W. Bush vetoed U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act (H.R. 1591), a bill that the Democrats tried to push through to end the war, language from the Communities First Act was a casualty. The spending bill included regulatory and tax relief for community banks, but the stand-alone bill is still out there.

Following the veto, Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Vel?zquez (D-N.Y.), who introduced the Communities First bill, commented, "With the increasing demand for the services provided by our community banks, we must ensure that we are doing all we can to help them serve their local communities. The provisions the president vetoed today would have been a first step in that direction. These reforms would have ensured community banks are able to meet the needs of local business owners and promote further job creation."