CA Representatives Who Voted to Fund the War in Iraq for Another Year

CA Representatives Who Voted to Fund the War in Iraq for Another Year
U.S. House of Representatives 5/15/08 vote 328 HR 2642


Name Party District Phone
Costa, Jim [D] CA-20 Fresno (202) 225-3341
Sherman, Brad [D] CA-27 Sherman Oaks (202) 225-5911
Berman, Howard [D] CA-28 Van Nuys (202) 225-4695
Schiff, Adam [D] CA-29 Pasadena (202) 225-4176
Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D] CA-34 Los Angeles (202) 225-1766
Campbell, John [R] CA-48 Newport Beach (202) 225-5611
Hunter, Duncan [R] CA-52 El Cajon (202) 225-5672
Davis, Susan [D] CA-53 San Diego (202) 225-2040

Numerous national polls show that 62% to 68% of voters oppose the war in Iraq. http://pollingreport.com/iraq.htm

Despite this high level of opposition, 70% of the Senate voted to continue funding the war in Iraq for another year (5/22/08).

Among Democrats, 85% want U.S. troops home within six months. Despite this high level of opposition to the war, nearly half of House Democrats voted to continue funding the war in Iraq for another year (5/15/08). http://www.democrats.com/iraq-poll-2

In both the House and Senate, war funding votes were kept separate from other appropriations. Clearly, these Congressional votes to CONTINUE the war in Iraq show a large disconnect from majority popular sentiment AGAINST the war in Iraq.

Furthermore, war funding appropriations for FY2008 and FY2009 have been combined. Funding two cycles at once means that Congress and the people will be denied their usual opportunity to debate war funding again in September. Presumably, this reflects a strategy to help candidates in November distance themselves from a vote now to continue the war.

A better solution would be to fund only FY2008 Iraq war operations, and also to reduce Iraq war funding to half of the requested amount for FY2008. This would send a clear signal that we don't intend to occupy Iraq indefinitely.

Congress’ Memorial Day recess gives constituents a one-week window of opportunity to let their representatives know their thoughts on war funding (HR 2642) before the House votes again after the recess. If passed in its present form, Iraq war funding will be locked in for another year.

Toolbox:
http://www.congress.org/ enables users to e-mail all of their representatives with one click.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2008-328 shows how your U.S. representative voted on Iraq war funding (HR 2642) on 5/15/08, vote #328.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=s2008-139 shows how your senators voted on Iraq war funding (HR 2642) on 5/22/08, vote #139.

Numerous national polls show that a supermajority of 62% to 68% of voters oppose the war in Iraq. http://pollingreport.com/iraq.htm

This May 2008 poll shows that 85% of Democrats want U.S. troops home within six months. Furthermore, only 23-33% of Republicans polled favored funding the war in Iraq for another year! http://www.democrats.com/iraq-poll-2

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/83035/ 12 Reasons Why Leaving Iraq is the Only Sane Thing to Do -- by Tom Engelhardt, Tomdispatch.com