(This is a national alert issued 5/6/08 by United for Peace & Justice, the broad-based coalition that is leading the struggle to end the Iraq War. This vote has been delayed until an unspecified time later in May while Democrats debate educational benefits for veterans that are included in the bill. Fiscal conservative ("Blue Dog") Democrats are demanding budget cuts to offset the cost of such benefits. You can still call to let your Congressperson know you oppose funding.)
WHAT:
House Leadership Set To Fund War Into 2009: Tell KY Congressmen NO!
WHO:
Call Rep. Chandler (KY 6th) or your Kentucky Representative
MESSAGE:
Vote "No!" on this funding bill. It's long past time to bring all the troops home and end the war. Stop playing political games while lives are being lost.
WHEN:
Call today. This vote has been delayed until later in May.
CONTACT NUMBERS:
(202) 224-3121
DETAILS:
The House of Representatives will vote as soon as tomorrow -- Thursday, May 8 -- on an additional $178 billion for the war and occupation in Iraq!
Amazingly, the bill includes $70 billion for fiscal year 2009. This means the funds for the occupation will keep flowing well into the next administration, allowing the new president a free hand to continue the war and occupation with little or no accountability to Congress until next spring. This is an appalling abdication of responsibility.
At a time when money is urgently needed in our communities, the new bill would bring the total for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to an unimaginable $874 billion. By including FY09 funding, the Democratic Party House leadership is effectively taking the war off the congressional agenda for the rest of this year. This might be our last opportunity to fight a war funding bill before the next president takes office and the new Congress is seated.
Don't let the House Democratic leadership take us for granted. If this funding bill passes, Congress will have handed Bush $874 billion for the illegal war and occupation of Iraq. With this funding bill, they are laying the groundwork for the next president to continue the occupation. We must send them a message: The voters will remember in November!
BACKGROUND:
House leadership met behind closed doors on Monday evening to concoct a plan that will keep the war going into the next president's first term. They plan to bring a $178 billion war funding bill to the floor for a vote on Thursday, May 8. In addition to the funding bill, they will vote separately on two other measures. One will provide billions for unemployment benefits and veterans education benefits; the other measure addresses war policy, including a goal for troop withdrawal by December 2009, troop readiness requirements, and bans on permanent bases in Iraq and torture. It is an open secret that the Senate will drop the measure on war policy -- leaving only the war funding with no strings attached.
Impact of War on the Iraqi People
The U.S. war/occupation in Iraq has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, devastated families and ripped apart the infrastructure of Iraq. One striking fact is that more than 4.7 million Iraqis (in a nation of 27 million people) have been displaced by war and occupation. It is the world's fastest growing refugee crisis, and represents the largest refugee flow in the Middle East since the displacement of Palestinians in 1948. Click here for more information.
SPONSOR:
United for Peace & Justice
