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Congress to Vote on War Funding - Call NOW! |
Update & Alert on Omnibus funding bill
It looks as if the House will pass the omnibus funding bill tonight --
with money for the war in Afganistan - but not Iraq. Many of the human
needs groups I have heard from feel this is the best deal that they are
going to get, so they are resigned to accepting the domestic side of
the bill that comes out of the House. As it moves to the Senate, we can
expect a vote on an amendment for $70 billion to fund the occupation of
Iraq with no conditions. The Senate may also move to cut important
domestice programs. [Many of the human needs groups will be fighting
against the war funds while also fighting to keep domestic spending
intact].
OUR TARGET NOW IS THE SENATE. WE MUST DEFEAT THE IRAQ FUNDING AMENDMENT IN THE SENATE.
Below is an alert from our friends at the Friends Committee on National Legislation with my additions (asking to keep dometic funding intact)---
Action: Vote this Week--Say No to Iraq War Money & No more cuts to domestic programs
Dear Friends,
This week, your senators will vote on whether the U.S. should give the president another $70 billion to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no strings attached. Call your senators today and ask them to vote NO on more money for war.
Take Action
Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121
or toll-free 1-888-796-7578 [USLAW provides this service]
and ask for one of your senators. You can find out who your senators are on FCNL's website if you don't already know.
Here are talking points to help you with your call.
* My name is {name} and I'm calling from {city, state}
* I want the senator to vote NO on any amendment to the omnibus funding bill that would add more money for the war in Iraq.
* I also want the Senator to refuse to make any further cuts to vital human needs programs
* Thank you.
After you call one office, call the switchboard again and ask for your other senator.
Background
Congress has the power to demand a new U.S. policy in Iraq if members exercise their power to control the way U.S. tax dollars are spent. But, so far, a majority in Congress has been content to cast symbolic votes against the current war policy and then write blank checks to keep the war going. Congress needs to stop voting more money for continuing the war.
Right now, Congress is working to pass the remaining bills to fund the U.S. government for the current fiscal year, which began October 1. Since Congress has run out of time to pass each bill individually, members have rolled them all into one large bill, called an omnibus. The House will vote on the omnibus early this week, and then the bill will go to the Senate for a vote.
The House bill doesn't include more money to fight the Iraq war, but when the bill gets to the Senate, several senators have said they are planning to offer an amendment that would add as much as $70 billion to wage war in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no conditions about how that money could be used. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill if there's no money for Iraq included in it. If 51 senators vote against the amendment adding Iraq war funding to the bill, then the money will not be added. Call your senators today.
Sue Udry
Legislative Action Coordinator
United for Peace and Justice
301-565-4050 x315
visit our website: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3116
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