Hayseeds No. 205

NY Assembly Says No to Iraq Escalation.

It appears that the Assembly spent a significant amount of time yesterday, until 8:22 PM to be exact, debating the Iraq war and condeming an escalation of war. It was a largely symbolic act, but also one that suggested that New Yorkers were seriously concerned about the war:

The resolution points out that 149 troops from New York have died in the Iraq war, (out of a total of more than 3,300) and another 1,400 wounded (out of a total of more than 24,000).

"The solution to this conflict is political, not military," said Assemblyman Andriano Espiallat, D-Manhattan. "It is time for our troops to come back home."

The final resolution passed 94-34. The resolution number so you can find out how your member voted will be posted later.

The War Resolution.

K566 was the number for the resolution that the Assembly passed last night regarding the war.

Assembly Resolution No. 566 BY: M. of A. Espaillat

EXPRESSING unequivocal support for all United States Armed Forces members and urging President George W. Bush to sign H.R. 1591, the U.S. Troopring the war in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Over 140,000 American military personnel are currentlyserving in the Iraq theater of operations, with an expected addition of28,000 more; and

WHEREAS, United States involvement in Iraq has resulted in thedeaths of more than 3,300 United States soldiers, including 149 from NewYork, and the wounding and disabling of more than 24,000 United Statesmilitary personnel to date, including more than 1,400 from New York,numbers which grow tragically on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, The United States House of Representatives and UnitedStates Senate have passed supplemental funding legislation H.R. 1591which includes a timetable to redeploy U.S. troops in Iraq, paired withprogress made by the Iraqi government in meeting diplomatic and securitybenchmarks; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Assembled Body that thislegislation should be signed into law by the President of the UnitedStates and that troops begin deployment from Iraq under the terms ofthis legislation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations toexpress its unequivocal and unwavering support for all United StatesArmed Forces members, and in particular, for all those who are servingin Iraq and Afghanistan, to pay tribute to those who have given theirlives in this conflict, and to respectfully urge President George W.Bush to reconsider his stated intention to veto H.R. 1591 and to signthis important legislation into law; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, betransmitted to President George W. Bush, the President of the Senate ofthe United States, the Majority Leader of the Senate of the UnitedStates, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each memberof the Congress of the United States from the State of New York.

Interesting. It's not as strong as Espilliat's orginal language (see below), but still a definite statement on the war.

WHEREAS, The President has proposed an escalation in the number of U.S. troops deployed in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, U.S. involvement in Iraq has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 U.S. soldiers and the wounding and disabling of more than 22,000 U.S. military personnel to date; and

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 of 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; and

WHEREAS, Polls show that the vast majority of Americans do not support increasing the number of troops in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Most military experts oppose escalation in Iraq and press reports indicate that even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have opposed such a strategy; and

WHEREAS, Legal experts on all sides have determined that Congress has not only the broad authority, but a long tradition of limiting escalation or forcing redeployment of troops through the Constitutionally-designate powers of the purse.

BE IT RESOLVED, That the state of New York, on behalf of its citizens, urges that in a period when the Iraq Study Group, leading military and diplomatic officials and allies around the world are calling for a reduction in troops and withdrawal of the U.S. from Iraq, the United States government should not escalate its involvement in Iraq or increase troop levels; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, at a minimum, the President should obtain explicit approval from Congress if he wants to send more American troops to Iraq.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Congress should pass legislation prohibiting the President from spending taxpayer dollars on an escalation in Iraq unless he first seeks Congressional approval.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be sent to George W. Bush, President of the United States, to the Congressional delegation of New York State, and to the United States Congress

At least they did it. According to Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat website, there was 36 different co-sponsors for that text.