This looks promising - going beyond traditional "drum-circle"-type alliances/coalitions, Ted Kennedy, the Progressive States Network and a lot of other groups including MoveOn have an action plan for action at the state-grassroots level to stop escalation. As pointed out in the text, there is a precedent for state legislatures taking up the flag and with many Democrats in the US Congress not willing to fulfill their constitutional obligation to check a power-intoxicated monarch president we need as many avenues as possible to apply and maintain pressure.
www.progressivestates.org/iraq
Press Release:
Progressive States Network, MoveOn, Women Legislators' Lobby, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, and Sen. Ted Kennedy Announce State Response to President Bush's Proposal to Escalate the War in Iraq
National State Legislative Campaign Highlights Impact to States of Escalation
...snip...
"States have the power and authority to speak out on issues that will impact them and their citizens," said Steve Doherty and David Sirota, Co-Chairs of Progressive States Network. "This escalation will have major costs - in terms of human lives, in terms of state budgets, and in terms of National Guard readiness."
The Progressive States Network will work with legislators to introduce and pass resolutions calling on Congress to use its power to prevent President Bush's escalation.
MoveOn will launch a major campaign, mobilizing Americans across the country to contact their state legislators, urging them to take action on the escalation.
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, a coalition that includes US Action, Service Employers International Union (SEIU), Win Without War, Vote Vets, Center for American Progress, Campaign for America's Future, MoveOn, and United States Student Association, will join the call to provide guidance and grassroots support for the resolutions.
The case for state-level action is well laid-out, as is the model language for legislation (scroll down to the end).
Keep checking the link and your email... In the meantime, 1) maybe some intrepid MLN'er who is free Wednesday at 11:30 AM may want to sign on for the conference call, and 2) we should check to see if any such resolution has already been introduced (I haven't found anything yet on cga.ct.gov but I'm not familiar which databases to search) and 3) identify state legislators to target for sponsorship (O'Brien?).
Ideas?
UPDATE: Wayne's diary supplies tools to look at local costs for the war. This is the underlying principle of this grassroots action; states - and municipalities - pay the costs in lives lost and funds lost, and therefore have a valid voice and obligation to use that voice. Here's an excerpt of language from the model legislation specifically geared towards getting people to make the federal - states connection:
WHEREAS, This proposed escalation will further extend National Guard tours in Iraq, that the costs to the states of the call-up of National Guard members for deployment in Iraq have been significant, as reckoned in lost lives, combat injuries and psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individuals, families and businesses, interruption of careers and damage to the fabric of civic life in our communities; and
WHEREAS, The American troops have valiantly upheld their duty in Iraq under dire circumstances; and
WHEREAS, More than $357 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq to date, money that could fund desperately needed education, health care, housing, nutrition and other social services in our communities in the United States or humanitarian assistance abroad; and
WHEREAS, Previous budgets that have prioritized Iraq have led to cuts in critical block grants for states and have increased the federal debt, which compounded by interest payments, will likely lead to even larger cuts in funding for critical needs in the States... |
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