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CDP Week in Review
Rep. Salazar Will Keep Fighting To Change Course In Iraq
More votes in July and September
U.S. Rep. John Salazar declared his support of the 2007 Iraq war spending measure H.R. 2206, which funds American soldiers fighting on the front lines. It also increases and improves the quality of health care services received by military families and veterans. Finally, H.R. 2206 requires the Iraqi people to take responsibility for the future of their country by establishing certain benchmarks that their government must meet to continue receiving non-military U.S. aid. Rep. Salazar made the following statement about the bill: "I will vote in support of this measure because it provides funding for our soldiers fighting in Iraq and provides better health care for our veterans and military families. However, I believe that we must begin to bring our troops home as soon as it is realistically possible. The American people have spoken and they want change. We cannot continue to stay the course of a failed policy. "As Congress prepares to vote again on this issue, once in July when we consider the 2008 Defense Appropriations bill, and again in September on the 2008 Iraq Supplemental bill, I look forward to working on behalf of the American people who want to see real progress made in the Iraq war. I will continue to hold the Iraqi government and the President accountable, and move our country in a new direction."
Statement of
Representative Mark Udall
on House Amendments to Senate Amendments to H.R. 2206,
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Hurricane and Disaster Relief
May 24, 2007
"Madam Speaker, I will vote for this supplemental appropriations bill today, but like many Americans who want to see an end to the war in Iraq, I am not happy about it.
In fact, I am deeply frustrated and saddened by the prospect, but I also am compelled by my conscience to this vote.
On Monday, Memorial Day ceremonies throughout Colorado and across the country will honor the men and women in uniform who have paid the full measure of devotion to duty in all of America's wars.
But as long as the war in Iraq goes on, every day will be Memorial Day.
Already, more than 3,400 of our servicemen and servicewomen have died in Iraq, and more will die before we withdraw our troops. Just last Friday, for example, 33-year old Sgt. First Class Scott Brown of Windsor, Colorado, and 27-year old Sgt. Ryan Baum of Aurora, Colorado were among them.
A friend of Ryan's family told reporters, "Ryan never wanted to be known as a hero, he just did his job." In fact, he did his job - and he is a hero.
This is not a heroic day in Congress, but as his comrades are faithful to their responsibilities, we must be faithful to ours.
And one of those responsibilities - even for those of us who have opposed this war -- is to support those brave comrades as they continue to do what the president has ordered them to do.
And now, today, all of us in the Congress face a dilemma that I foresaw four years ago - when President Bush first sent our forces into Iraq: having to choose either to take the guns out of the hands of our soldiers in the field or to let the President move forward with a misguided and reckless policy.
Cutting off funds for supplies and equipment for our troops is one way, of course, to bring this war to an end, and I understand why many Americans believe Congress should do so. But the more responsible way to end this war, in my opinion, is to change our policy, and to avoid making an already bad situation worse.
I opposed the Bush administration's decision to launch a pre-emptive war in Iraq because I believed it would be a diversion from our larger post 9-11 strategic objectives and I was not convinced that the President had an adequate plan and enough international support to secure and stabilize Iraq after overthrowing its regime.
I said at the time that getting into this war would be far easier than getting out. I wrote in March, 2003 that "success in Iraq is not just about eliminating Saddam Hussein…. Success in Iraq also means managing the ensuing social chaos, keeping a lid on the Middle East powder keg, thwarting terrorist attacks at home, and occupying and rebuilding Iraq - and doing all of this when our own economy is faltering, energy prices are rising and domestic priorities like health care and education are crying out for attention."
So, I offered my own resolution to slow the rush to war in 2003 and argued for a program of coercive inspections that would have uncovered the truth about weapons of mass destruction before shedding American blood.
When that was rejected, I voted against authorizing the president to send our forces into Iraq - and today, more than ever, I am convinced that my vote against the war was the right vote.
Congress, nevertheless, voted to give the president the authority to go to war, and he has used that authority, to disastrous effect.
I have worked to extricate us from the ongoing disaster. I was among the first in Congress to call for an exit strategy from Iraq. I have introduced legislation, cosponsored legislation, spoken out with my colleagues, published articles, traveled to Iraq to better understand the challenges we face, and asked tough questions of our military leaders during Armed Services Committee hearings. And I continue - every day - to pressure this administration in every way I can.
I firmly believe that our challenge is to withdraw from Iraq rapidly - but responsibly. For me, the debate today should be about how to carry out a responsible withdrawal. And that is the point on which I find myself disagreeing with many whose passion to end this war I respect.
They argue that the best way to get out is to vote today to cut off funding for our men and women in uniform, and in harm's way. I respectfully disagree, because that would sacrifice a responsible exit in favor of a rapid one - and in good conscience, I cannot support that anymore than I could support the reckless way we were led into this war in the first place.
I think responsibility demands that we provide the funding necessary to keep the many thousands of brave Americans now in service in Iraq supplied. With our troops stretched thin, forced to perform longer tours of duty and short of equipment and supplies, funding for the immediate needs of these men and women in uniform cannot be held hostage to disagreements about the folly of Bush administration policies.
Make no mistake - I have no doubt that the president's polices have brought our country to the brink of a national security crisis. I am angry that the president still refuses to accept a supplemental funding proposal for Iraq and Afghanistan that provides real accountability measures for ending the Iraq war. I voted to force him to adopt a different course, and when he vetoed that legislation, I voted to override that short-sighted and stubborn exercise of presidential power. Unfortunately, and primarily because of the misguided loyalty of members of the president's party, that override effort failed, which is why we are considering the legislation now before us.
I did not choose the wording of the bill that we are considering today. It is not the bill that I would have written. But it will provide the essential funding to support and protect America's sons and daughters who are in Iraq right now doing everything we have asked of them and putting their lives on the line every day.
Providing that funding is part of my job. But another part is to bring pressure to bear on this Administration to end this war because I don't want any more young dedicated Americans to lose their lives in this war. I want to bring them home.
So far, that pressure has not been enough, as was shown by the president's veto of a bill that fully funded our troops, held the Iraqi government accountable, and demanded that the President change course and bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end. It is abundantly clear that he is not prepared to adopt a better course - and as long as we lack a sufficient majority to override his veto, we Democrats can't force him to do so without Republican support.
But I will persist, because I think it is up to those of us who opposed this war in the first place to show the way forward.
That is why, after the Memorial Day recess I will introduce legislation that implements the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group and provides a foundation for the phased withdrawal of American troops out of Iraq beginning in March of next year. So far over 40 Members of Congress - both Democrats and Republicans - have agreed to cosponsor this legislation.
I am hopeful that this bipartisan effort will lead to more such efforts. Republicans and Democrats alike believe that this fall is key to the future of U.S. military involvement in Iraq. By then, another funding package will be up for a vote, General Petraeus will be reporting back on the progress of the "surge," and we will have other indications of progress on benchmarks based on reports that the Administration will be forced to produce as part of this supplemental funding bill.
I commit to continuing to do what I can every day to bring this war to an end. Today, I believe the responsible thing to do is to provide needed funds for our men and women in uniform with this bill, which also includes benchmarks for the Iraqi government -- an indispensable step toward having Iraqis begin to take responsibility for their own country's future."
Denver Post: 4 more join Salazar on Iraq plan
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5977209
Washington - Four more senators on Thursday joined a bipartisan group urging a diplomatic effort to stabilize Iraq by making the Iraq Study Group's recommendations official U.S. policy.
Sens. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, Bob Casey, D-Pa., Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Judd Gregg, R-N.H., joined Ken Salazar, D-Colo., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., arguing the plan is the way to end debate over the costly and unpopular war.
The senators plan to introduce a bill next month that would set a series of benchmarks the Iraqis must meet in exchange for continued U.S. support.
"The administration is working with the Iraqi government and engaging its neighbors to determine the next steps toward a peaceful resolution, and this bipartisan legislation will only help to augment their efforts," Bennett said in a statement.
The senators' plan is based on the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan group of politicians and policy experts, which called in December for an urgent diplomatic attempt to stabilize Iraq.
Salazar and Alexander launched the effort earlier this month as the Democratic-controlled Congress was locked in a standoff with President Bush over an emergency spending bill for the war.
Democrats insisted in a deadline for withdrawal, and Bush refused.
The House backed off this week, agreeing to send legislation without a deadline and saying they wanted to support the troops anyway. Instead, they vowed to use 2008 defense spending to try to force an end to the war.
Even as they have accused Democrats of playing political games with war funding, nervous Republicans have quietly begun pressing Bush to bring the war to an end.
"We need a political solution in Washington, D.C., as much as we need one in Baghdad," Alexander said Thursday.
Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., joined GOP Reps. Frank Wolf of Virginia and Michael McCaul of Texas in backing a similar measure in the House.
"It will be up to those of us who opposed this war in the first place to show the way forward," Udall said in prepared statement.
"Our troops have done everything we have asked of them, putting their lives on the line every day, and it is up to us to make sure that Iraq begins to take responsibility for its own future."
Salazar and several other lawmakers have criticized Bush for all but ignoring the Iraq Study Group's recommendations.
The bill would create a diplomatic group to help with security in the region, speed up Iraqi oil production, encourage the Iraqis to develop a plan to distribute oil revenues, and set conditions to enable the U.S. to withdraw troops beginning in the first quarter of 2008.
"The Iraq Study Group's recommendations offer a bipartisan way forward for our nation in Iraq," Salazar said. "The fact that we have been joined by senators from both sides of the aisle shows that there is growing support in the Senate to provide a new and responsible approach that emphasizes diplomacy and transitions our military mission in Iraq from combat to support."
Gov. Ritter To Visit Frisco, Glenwood And Grand Junction For Bill-Signing Ceremonies Tuesday
Gov. Bill Ritter will be visiting Frisco, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction on Tuesday to sign key pieces of 2007 legislation into law, including a measure that reconstitutes the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
The Governor also will be signing two bills at a ceremony following Saturday's Memorial Day Parade in Denver.
SATURDAY, MAY 26
DENVER
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Colorado Veterans Monument, Lincoln Park (across from Capitol)
Bills: SB 86, Creating War on Terror Memorial (Kopp/Balmer)
HB 1352, Fallen Service Member License Plates (Rice/Ward)
TUESDAY, MAY 29
FRISCO
Time: 9:30 to 10 a.m.
Location: Frisco Peninsula
Bills: HB 1130, Forest Restoration (Gibbs/Fitz-Gerald)
HB 1298, Best Management, Wildlife (Gibbs/Tochtrop)
HB 1229, Chain Law (Gibbs/Fitz-Gerald)
Directions: I-70, Exit 203 Frisco/Breckenridge. Travel South on Highway 9 (Summit Blvd.) for two miles past Frisco's Main Street. Go another half-mile and make a left turn off Highway 9 into the Peninsula Recreation Area. Event will take place next to the Nordic Ski Lodge.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS
Time: 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Location: Garfield County Courthouse, 109 Eighth St.
Bills: HB 1252, Surface Rights (Roberts/Isgar)
HB 1180, Reporting at Wellhead (White/Isgar)
HB 1139, Severance Tax (Curry/Penry)
GRAND JUNCTION
Time: 2:30 to 3 p.m.
Location: St. Mary's Hospital Main Lobby, 2635 N. Seventh St.
Bills: HB 1301, Cervical Cancer Immunizations (Buescher & Primavera/Williams)
HB 1346, Pre-Paid Inpatient Health Plans (Buescher/Tapia)
Please enter the Main Lobby through Entrance 1. Park in the garage and take the pedestrian pathway around the construction area to Entrance 1.
GRAND JUNCTION
Time: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Canyon View Park, 750 24 Road
Bills: HB 1341, Oil and Gas Commission Reorganization (Curry/Isgar)
SB 246, Clean Energy Fund (Fitz-Gerald/Buescher)
SB 91, Renewable Resource Development Areas (Schwartz/Massey)
SB 200, Uranium Mill Tailings (Isgar/Buescher)
Canyon View Park is located at 750 24 Road (24 Road exit off I-70).
With Gas Prices at over $3.00 Per Gallon in Colorado, Colorado Chair Calls on Republican Legislators To Join Democrats To Ease Pain at the Pump
With gasoline prices soaring to $3.34 per gallon in Colorado heading into Memorial Day weekend, Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak yesterday called on Colorado Republicans in Washington to help ease the pain at the pump for Colorado's families.
Wednesday in the House of Representatives, Democrats led the charge to pass the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2007 by a mostly party line vote of 284-141, defying a veto threat from President Bush. The bill would protect Americans from being gouged at the pump and set America on a path toward lower gas prices by imposing tough new measures to investigate and punish those who are artificially inflating the price of gasoline. The Bush Administration's veto threat and the fact that most Republicans, including Colorado's Reps. Lamborn, Musgrave and Tancredo voted against the bill shows that the Republican Party remains beholden to Big Oil.
"I commend Colorado's Democrats in Congress who showed political will and tenacity in the face of veto threats to pass a bill that puts American families first," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak . "Republicans like Doug Lamborn, Marilyn Musgrave and Tom Tancredo should apologize for failing to join Democrats to pass the anti-price gouging bill yesterday, and owe it to Coloradans to hold the Bush Administration accountable and help lower gas prices. Our Democrats in Congress are keeping their promises and helping make America energy independent. That's what Coloradans voted for, and that's what they're getting."
No Confidence Vote for Attorney General Gonzales
New reports each day contradict Alberto Gonzales' previous Congressional testimony and only cast more doubt on his ability to lead the Justice Department. President Bush should hold him accountable and show him the door. Democrats are committed to stop the Bush White House's abuse of power.
* The way the answers keep changing suggests that the Administration is hiding something it doesn't want the American people to know. What is the Bush White House hiding?
* The Attorney General has lost the confidence of Congress. Several Republican Senators have already called for his dismissal and even Senate leader Mitch McConnell this week would not voice support for Gonzales job performance.
* President Bush is alone in supporting the Attorney General. Despite contradictory statements and of months missing e-mails and finger pointing, the President continues to say that Gonzalez "has done nothing wrong."
* It is time for President Bush to hold Attorney General Gonzales accountable and show him the door. America deserves leaders we can trust.
* This scandal is another example of the Bush White House arrogantly abusing power. From the incompetence in Iraq to the mismanagement at Walter Reed to the purging of Justice Department officials for partisan gain, Bush Administration has put its politics ahead of what is best for America.
* Democrats are holding the Bush Administration accountable. Democrats are committed to upholding the integrity of our nation's laws and put an end to the Republican culture of corruption.
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