Stop the Hemorrhage, Bring $Billions home

Re-reporting, editing by Carolyn Bennett
Some Members of Congress took a stand against more billions for war

Obey of WISCONSIN
To date “we have appropriated over $1 trillion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than $700 billion to Iraq and $300 billion for Afghanistan.” Borrowed money has paid for these wars.

“What’s happened with this bill [2010 supplemental appropriations, war funding bill] is a good indication of the tensions and the false choices that we face. The bill started in March as a domestic disaster relief and youth summer jobs bill. The Senate added war funding. Then, we tried to do something about other emergencies this year:

The loss of more than 100,000 teachers’ jobs because of devastating state and local budget cuts
Border security vulnerabilities
A shortfall in Pell grant funding because more students qualify for aid due to the economic recession

“The House tried to fund those emergencies – which were largely paid for with offsets to other programs. Now, true to form, virtually everything we have attempted to do this year to address the economic crisis and emergencies on the domestic side of the ledger has fallen by the wayside.

“On the current course, we will face the same situation again next year and the year following as well.

“Military experts tell us that it will take us at least 10 more years to achieve any acceptable outcome in Afghanistan. We have already been there 9 years ─ I believe it is too high a price to pay.

“To those who say we must pay it because we’re going after Al Qaeda, I would note that Afghanistan is where Al Qaeda USED to be.

“Today, there are fewer than 100 Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, which was publicly confirmed last month by CIA chief Panetta. Al Qaeda has relocated to other countries and regions.

“I have the highest respect and appreciation for our troops who have done everything asked of them. They are being let down by the inability of the governments of Afghanistan and in some instances Pakistan to do their parts.

“I would be willing to support additional war funding – provided that Congress would vote – up or down – explicitly on whether or not to continue this policy after a new National Intelligence Estimate is produced.

“But absent that discipline, I cannot look my constituents in the eye and say that this operation will hurt our enemies more than us.…”

U.S. Representative Dave Obey [7th Congressional District Wisconsin, July 27, 2010, on his decision to vote no on the 2010 supplemental appropriations bill, http://appropriations.house.gov/images/stories/pdf/Obey_Statement_on_the_Sen_Amendment_to_2010_Supplemental_-_7_27_10_2.pdf

Clarke of NEW YORK
“Unfortunately the Senate has decided to short change our school children, teachers and youth while continuing to pay for the fruitless war in Afghanistan. Senators stripped critical House-passed funding provisions from the legislation that would have provided for teacher jobs, summer youth employment, and college Pell grants.

Specifically, the Senate version of the War Supplemental bill stripped from the House-passed investments:

$10 billion for teacher jobs

$1 billion for summer youth employment

$5 billion for Pell grants

$701 million for border security

The bill also excludes critical funding to maintain first responder, police/firefighter positions despite the fundamental need for those jobs not only in Brooklyn but in every community in America.

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke's Statement on the FY 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act,
July 27, 2010 7:13 PM Washington, DC- Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 with a vote of 308 to 114; Congresswoman Clarke released the statement on her decision to vote against the legislation, http://clarke.house.gov/2010/07/congresswoman-yvette-d-clarkes-statement-on-the-fy-2010-supplemental-appropriations-act.shtml

 Kucinich of OHIO
“Wake Up America.

“How can we solve the world’s problems if we cannot solve our own problems here at home?”

“Don’t we know enough now to begin to demand an end to these wars? Can we ignore the budgetary impact of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan ─ especially when there are so many pressing needs for jobs, housing, education, health care and retirement security here at home?

“Vote for H. Con. Res 301: The Kucinich-Paul Resolution to Withdraw from Pakistan. Vote Against the $33 Billion Iraq-Afghanistan-Pakistan War Supplemental.” Dennis J. Kucinich, 10th District Ohio, http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=200735

House Congressional Resolution 301: “Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Pakistan” was introduced by Representative Dennis J. Kucinich [OH-10], July 22, 2010. Cosponsors are Representatives Bob Filner [CA-51] and Paul, Ron [TX-14].

Related bill House Resolution 1556: “Providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 301) directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Pakistan” [Sets forth the rule for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 301) directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Pakistan] introduced by Representative James P. McGovern [MA-3] July 26, 2010.

Woolsey, Lee of CALIFORNIA
“We are running up record deficits with two wars,” California Representative Lynn Woolsey said, costing “the United States in blood and treasure.”

“Let’s not spend another dollar to escalate America’s longest war,” another California Congresswoman pleaded on the House floor. “The costs of this war are too enormous,” Representative Barbara Lee said.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved $58 billion for wars, despite Afghan leaks (Mark Matthews), July 27, 2010, http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=7578874