Press
Senate Dems Pass Iraq War Resolution
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Dems pass memorial to stop the escalation of the war in Iraq; all Republicans vote ‘no’
DENVER—On the day the U.S. Senate passed a bill providing $122 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and ordered Bush to begin withdrawing troops, the Colorado Senate Democrats passed a resolution opposing the escalation of the war in Iraq.
Senator Ron Tupa (D-Boulder) and Senator Ken Gordon (D-Denver) passed Senate Joint Memorial 2, which opposes President Bush’s plan to increase the number of American troops in Iraq by 21,500.
“The purpose of this joint resolution is two-fold,” noted Sen. Tupa. “First and foremost it is a statement in support of our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Secondly, it sends a message to the President that we are opposed to his ‘go it alone’ strategy of sending even more of our troops into the middle of a civil war.”
“Passage of SJM-2 adds Colorado’s voice to the growing list of states across the country officially opposed to the President’s ‘surge’ plan to increase the number of troops sent into harm’s way in Iraq,” added Senator Tupa.
The resolution mirrors a similar measure, HCR 63, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives with bi-partisan support on a vote of 246-182 on February 16, 2007. The resolution is part of a nationwide effort by at least 29 state legislatures to put pressure on the President to stop the escalation of the war.
During debate today Senate Republicans argued that the memorial was not a state issue. “Of course the war in Iraq is a state issue,” said Senator Gordon, “we are not in favor of cutting funding. Voting on and debating this issue is the kind of thing you do in a democracy. As humans and elected officials it is our right and obligation to bring this resolution forward.”
Senator Moe Keller (D-Wheat Ridge), a member of the Joint Budget Committee, pointed out the cuts that the state was faced with because of the war in Iraq. Senator Keller stated, “$16 million in homeland security funds were cut by the federal government which would have been used to protect our state. $5 million cut for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants. $11 million cut to criminal justice funds for local law enforcement. $128 million cut for hospitals. $25 million cut in health care for the mentally ill. $99 million cut in transportation. We have other costs we are facing because the federal government must find money to support the war. This is a state issue and we are being hit hard, we cannot absorb the cuts.”
The Joint Resolution passed on a party line vote of 20 to 14 with 1 excused, and will be carried in the House by Representative Terrance Carroll (D-Denver) and House Majority Leader Alice Madden (D-Boulder).
“It is disappointing that despite bi-partisan support in Congress on similar resolutions actually implementing a timetable for withdrawal, the Republicans in this body couldn’t support even the modest step of not escalating the war,” added Senator Tupa.
Senator Gordon added, “This war has had a devastating effect on Colorado, on those who are currently serving our country in the military, on their families, on the children and other Coloradans who will go without health care or a good education because of Federal budget cuts, on all citizens who care about a competent and responsive government and a rational foreign policy that strengthens our country. These negative effects will continue until President Bush changes course, and that is what we are asking him to do.”
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