USAction Applauds Lawmakers Who Opposed Blank Check for Iraq War
Almost two-thirds of the House majority rejected minority’s effort to hold human-needs priorities hostage to endless war
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2007 |
Contact: Will Matthews
(202) 263-4541
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Washington—The 141 members of the House Democratic caucus who rejected blank-check funding for the Iraq war in Wednesday's vote on the FY08 omnibus appropriations package are true leaders in the campaign to invest in America's priorities, USAction said Thursday.
"New investment in America's health care, education, housing and other priorities is long-overdue," said USAction Program Director Alan Charney. "But any plan that ties such support to funding for the war in Iraq without a timetable for redeployment is unacceptable. USAction applauds legislators who rejected the blank check for the war."
All but one House Republican supported the inclusion of unrestricted war funds in the package, which passed 272-142.
On Tuesday, the Senate approved an amendment to add a blank check for the war by a 70-25 vote, then passed the full omnibus bill with the war funds by a 76-17 vote.
Support for the war in Congress is almost exactly as strong as opposition to it among the American people. Public-opinion polling has consistently shown that at least two-thirds of Americans oppose the war and are eager for policymakers to set a timetable for withdrawal. In the 2006 elections, voters called for new leadership in Congress that would change course from endless war in Iraq and reverse the president's upside-down budget priorities.
"The priorities of American voters are clear: we want an end to the war and investment in health care and human needs," Charney said. "Congressional leaders need to listen to their constituents, stand up to the president, and push their colleagues in the right direction."
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USAction and our affiliates in 24 states join together to win social, racial and economic justice for all. We connect issues to elections and policy to politics. We seek to take our democracy back from the corporate elite and the well-heeled special interests that dominate the political process today – because we believe that government has a critical role to play in ensuring liberty and justice for all. Members of the media who wish to interview USAction President William McNary should contact Will Matthews at (202) 263-4541. Date: 12/20/2007
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