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URGENT! Vote on the House Supplemental TOMORROW

Mar 22, 2007

Dear Friend,

Listen to Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) explain why he is voting in favor of the Supplemental Appropriations bill that sets a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq:

"I think because of the overwhelming support that is coming out from across the political spectrum ... including [liberal] groups like MoveOn and Council for a Livable World, and other groups that are moderate, conservative who want to get something done to provide the troops the funding they need, and at the same time establish clear timelines to end this war in Iraq."

The House will vote on this bill tomorrow and the vote is expected to be razor thin. Please call or e-mail your Representative and ask them to support the House Supplemental Appropriations Bill and its plan to set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

Although it’s far from perfect, the House Supplemental Appropriations Bill is a much needed step towards ending the war in Iraq. The bill requires the withdrawal of all American combat forces from Iraq by at least August 2008, and perhaps much sooner. While most progressives want the troops out sooner, this bill is the only legislation on the table that sets a date certain to end the war.

The strategy to pressure on the Bush Administration has successfully increased in intensity. A May 2005 Woolsey (D-CA) amendment requesting that the President submit a plan for withdrawal from Iraq attracted 128 votes in favor. The following year, those opposing a Hyde (R-IL) resolution setting a timetable for withdrawal garnered 153 votes. Now, in March 2007, we stand poised finally move pass the tipping point with a 218 vote majority.

Just as previous votes on Iraq have helped build pressure to exit from Iraq, passage of the House Supplemental Appropriations bill will add to the momentum and build towards even stronger votes in the future. Defeat of the Supplemental, on the other hand, will give President Bush the victory he wants by resulting in the passage of a funding bill with no restrictions or timeline for withdrawal at all.

Some progressives have criticized this bill for not going far enough. However, it is important not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Passage of this bill brings us that much closer to ending the war, while defeat would be a political catastrophe.

As Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said yesterday, the Supplemental is “the best we can do right now. At this point, a contrary vote would be seen by the country and the world as a vote in favor of the president, which is crazy.”

House Democratic leaders are moving towards securing the 218 votes needed to pass the bill, but your support is urgently needed. Please call or e-mail your Representative TODAY to tell them to support the House Supplemental Appropriations Bill and its plan to set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

Sincerely,

John Isaacs and Guy Stevens

P.S. Interested in learning more about the recent developments in Congress?Click here to watch John Isaacs of Council for a Livable World as he talks about upcoming developments in Congress with Tom Andrews of Win Without War and Darcy Scott Martin of True Majority.