Washington ? House Democratic leaders briefed party members Tuesday on new legislation that would fund the Iraq war through July, then give Congress the option of cutting off money if conditions do not improve.

If members agree to back the plan as expected, a vote on the new war spending bill could come as early Thursday. The proposal, pitched last week by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., was first disclosed last week by The Associated Press.

Democrats told reporters the plan is likely to provide more than $40 billion for the war and other high-priority projects, then vote “mid summer” on whether to release more money for military operations.

The plan had dim prospects of surviving in the Senate, where most Democrats want to guarantee funding for troops through September and were trying to negotiate a deal with the White House.

House Democrats said they weren’t too concerned with getting the White House’s blessing.

“They know what we’re doing obviously,” said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill. “I don’t think their subscriptions to the newspapers ended at any time recently.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she had promised to find common ground with the Bush administration, but made it clear last week that “if we didn’t find out common ground, we would stand our ground.”