Simply Politics & News

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State Senate OKs resolution opposing troop increase
Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

(02-14) 04:00 PST Sacramento -- California's Senate became the first state legislative body in the nation to oppose President Bush's plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq, passing a resolution Monday urging Congress and Bush not to escalate U.S. involvement in the war.

The nonbinding resolution, which will be sent to Congress if it clears the Assembly, was approved by the 40-member Senate on a largely party-line vote of 22-14. Voting "no" were 13 Republicans and one Southern California Democrat, Lou Correa of Orange County.

"We talk about our troops every day, yet our support and confidence in this war has waned," said the resolution's author, Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco. "It is time to put California on record to truly support our troops."

Opponents countered that the resolution opposing further troop buildup in Iraq would harm morale and embolden America's enemies.

The resolution, in effect, is "denying our soldiers the reinforcements they desperately need," said Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Northridge (Los Angeles County), in opposition. 'That is absolutely the worst thing we can do."

No Assembly vote has been scheduled on the resolution.

The liberal grassroots group MoveOn.org and other progressive political organizations are pushing statehouses across the country to approve resolutions opposing the proposed troop surge.

Resolutions have been introduced in about 20 states.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/14/MNGEVO47I31.DTL&type=politics