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| To urge the United States government not to escalate its involvement or increase troop levels in Iraq. |
| WHEREAS, The citizens of Ohio support our troops and are proud of the commitment, bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism of those who have served or who are serving in Iraq. The United States involvement in Iraq has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 United States soldiers, including 130 from Ohio, and the wounding and disabling of more than 22,000 military personnel to date. American troops have valiantly upheld their duty in Iraq under dire circumstances; and |
| WHEREAS, The President has proposed an increase in the number of United States troops deployed in Iraq. The proposed increase will further extend National Guard tours in Iraq. The costs of the call-up to the states already 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 communities; and |
| WHEREAS, Before the war began, the Bush Administration projected that the conflict would cost only $50 billion. To date, more than $357 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq, which is money that could fund desperately needed education, health care, housing, nutrition, and other social services in communities of the United States or humanitarian assistance abroad. In addition, previous budgets that have prioritized Iraq have led to cuts in critical block grants for states and have increased the federal debt, which is compounded by interest payments that will likely lead to even larger cuts in funding for critical needs in the states; and |
| WHEREAS, The Bush Administration has been sharply criticized by members of Congress and world leaders for its use of prewar intelligence, including criticism that the Administration practiced outright distortion, manipulation, and misrepresentation of data and selective use of intelligence. Polls show that the vast majority of Americans do not support increasing the number of troops in Iraq. In addition, most military experts oppose escalation in Iraq, and press reports indicate that even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have opposed such a strategy. Legal experts on all sides have determined that Congress not only has broad authority, but a long tradition of limiting escalation or forcing redeployment of troops through the constitutionally designated power of the purse; now therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 127th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, acting on behalf of the citizens of Ohio, urge the United States government not to escalate its involvement in Iraq or increase troop levels in a period when the Iraq Study Group, leading military and diplomatic officials, and allies around the world are calling for a reduction of troops and the withdrawal of the United States from Iraq; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, The President, at a minimum, should obtain explicit approval from Congress to send more American troops to Iraq. In addition, Congress should pass legislation prohibiting the President from spending taxpayer dollars on an escalation in Iraq unless the President first seeks Congressional approval; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio. |