Two state lawmakers — one of which has a son in the U.S. Army — said today they oppose President Bush’s plan to increase troops in Iraq, and one will help draft a resolution to be introduced to the Colorado legislature within a couple of weeks.
State Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins said he will write a letter in opposition to the troop surge and ask as many state lawmakers as possible to sign it next week so it can be delivered to Colorado congressional delegation in Washington.
"As a matter of conscience and as the father of a son returning to war and as a state representative entrusted to do the people’s work, I am compelled to speak out and support community efforts to stop further escalation of the war and bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq," Kefalas said.
He was joined by state Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, who plans to introduce a joint resolution with state Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Denver, opposing troop escalation.
But some of the harshest words came from Bill Vandenberg, co-director of the Colorado Progressive Coalition, who singled out Sen. Wayne Allard for voting to block the debate of the troop surge proposal on the senate floor recently.
"Shame on you, Sen. Allard for blocking debate in the U.S. Senate," he said. "Sen. Allard may be leaving office in 2008, but Coloradans have a right to expect him not to retire on the job before that."
During the news conference, Gordon, Kefalas and Vandenberg were questioned by a man who identified himself as Andy George with the Colorado Citizen Independent. George asked why this was even a state issue.
They noted 41 Coloradans have died in the war since it began almost five years ago and that the Colorado National Guard has men and equipment currently deployed in Iraq.
"Colorado citizens are dying over there," Gordon said. "Other than that, it’s just a moral issue and I think all citizens have a responsibility to speak out on moral issues and there not disqualified from doing that because they hold elected office." |
