Archive for Friday, January 26, 2007
Kansas Senate considers opposition to increasing troops in Iraq
State Sen. Donald Betts filed the resolution
January 26, 2007
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Topeka — Opposition to President Bush's troop increase in Iraq surfaced in the Kansas Statehouse on Friday.
State Sen. Donald Betts, D-Wichita, filed a resolution that would put Kansas lawmakers on record of being opposed to Bush's call for 21,500 more troops in Iraq.
At a minimum, the resolution states, Bush should seek approval from Congress before sending more troops, and that Congress should prohibit the president from spending taxpayer dollars on an escalation in Iraq without his first seeking congressional approval.
"We are sending 18- and 19-year-olds, at the start of their lives, to Iraq, and they are not coming home," Betts said. The war has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 U.S. soldiers with more than 22,000 wounded.
Bush has said an increase in troop strength is needed to quell violence in the war zone.
But Betts said most Americans and military experts oppose the troop buildup.
If adopted, the resolution would have no legal authority to force Bush or Congress to do anything.
But Betts said it would give Bush, a Republican, "a clear message" of how people in a predominantly Republican state feel about the war.
State Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, said Betts' resolution was unnecessary because state lawmakers can't affect the war effort.
"These are serious issues but clearly they are not state issues," Schmidt said.
The measure -- Senate Concurrent Resolution 1605 -- will likely be referred to a committee next week.
In the U.S. Senate, the Foreign Relations Committee adopted a nonbinding resolution saying the troop increase in Iraq was "not in the national interest" of the United States.
But the Bush administration has stated it intends to proceed with its plan.
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26 January 2007
at 1:57 p.m.
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Slav (Anonymous) says…
They're considering opposition? And this is news how? Anything but active opposition is consideration, so this article strikes me as asinine.
Are there hidden cameras somewhere?
26 January 2007
at 2:22 p.m.
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oldgoof (Anonymous) says…
why don't they vote on speaking French in Quebec too, while they have idle time.
26 January 2007
at 3:17 p.m.
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pilch (Anonymous) says…
the state ought to worry abou state matters
26 January 2007
at 3:35 p.m.
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BigDog (Anonymous) says…
Gosh …… would hate to focus on issues that they have some power over …..like alternative energy issues, health care, seniors or university classrooms ….. and if they have ran out of ideas this early maybe there should be an official state water or state wood that they could work on.
26 January 2007
at 3:44 p.m.
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Slav (Anonymous) says…
um, I believe the state water is Aquafina.
26 January 2007
at 3:54 p.m.
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BigDog (Anonymous) says…
Damn Slav ….. guess there is one less major item on their political agenda for the year.