Kansas’ two Democrats in Congress are featured prominently this morning in a Washington Post article about a “rift” in the party about how to approach the Iraq War.The Post reports:_Even in her conservative Kansas district, calls and letters to freshman House Democrat Nancy Boyda show a constituency overwhelmingly ready for U.S. troops to come home from Iraq.__Yet as the House nears a legislative showdown on the war, Boyda finds herself wracked with doubts. She is convinced that Congress must intervene to stop the war, but is fearful of the chaos that a quick U.S. pullout could prompt. “Congress has an obligation to do something,” Boyda said. But she is unsure what to do, worried about anything that “affects commanders on the ground.”_ _This morning House Democrats, fractured as a group and, with many members such as Boyda torn over how to proceed on Iraq, will meet to learn the details of a new proposal cobbled together by party leaders last night, which calls for bringing troops home early next year while removing remaining troops from combat by October 2008.__But it is far from certain they will succeed in bridging the rifts that have opened inside a passionately antiwar and yet determinedly cautious new congressional majority. “It’s much easier to express an opinion to a pollster than it is to formulate effective policy on something as intractable as Iraq,” Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) said.__Because Republicans have stood remarkably united against the Democratic effort, the loss of just a handful of Democratic votes could lead to an embarrassing public defeat. At least a dozen of the 43 conservative “Blue Dogs,” who worry about the “soft-on-defense” stigma that has haunted the party, could bolt if Democrats move toward withdrawal too aggressively. But dozens of antiwar Democrats say they cannot support legislation that is too meek.__The deal is a long way to passage, but the pressure is building, especially on Pelosi.__”I don’t know if it’s the first big test for her, but it certainly is a big test,” said Rep. Dennis Moore (Kan.), a Blue Dog leader._Other news today:Sen. Pat Roberts (R)!(PR Newswire) Pharmacy Profession Gravely Concerned by Anti-Patient Compounding Bill: A coalition of nine pharmacy organizations representing more than 60,000 pharmacists today expressed grave concerns over proposed legislation that would restrict patients’ access to vital compounded prescription medications and create onerous, new requirements for both prescribers and pharmacists. The American Pharmacists Association, the National Community Pharmacists Association, the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, the American College of Apothecaries, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association, the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists, and the Kansas Pharmacists Association expressed their concerns in a joint letter to expected sponsors of the Safe Drug Compounding Act of 2007, Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.). The draft legislation “would not have the intended effect on patient health you desire,” the organizations noted in the letter. “Instead, the proposal would negatively impact patient access to necessary compounded prescription medications and create onerous, new requirements for prescribers and pharmacists. We strongly urge you to reconsider introducing this draft legislation.”Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) !(The Hill) Democrats lead in Senate recruiting; Republicans out front in House races: Four months after the 2006 election, Senate Democrats appear largely set on candidates for their top pickup opportunities, while Republicans likely will need to wait to determine theirs. In the House, Republicans eager to regain several conservative House districts have led the early candidates, while few Democrats are getting in at this point. In the House, Republicans are lining up against freshman incumbents including Reps. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), but have been slow to officially jump into some of the conservative districts lost in 2006 due to Republican scandals. Republicans have repeat candidates in former Reps. Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) and Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.), who will try to regain seats they lost in 2006. Ryun could face a primary challenge from state treasurer Lynn Jenkins.