The National Education Association Peace and Justice Caucus has joined 110 other organizations and congressional candidates in opposing any more funding of foreign wars. While the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee has stalled further war escalation funding until Congress funds teachers, teachers themselves do not want the war escalation funded at all, and certainly not with school funding used as pretty packaging on the same piece of legislation.
Eighty-four congressional candidates and 27 national organizations are opposing any more funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, no matter what unrelated measures are packaged into the same bill, and no matter whether the bill appears likely to pass or not. This position contrasts strongly with that of most incumbent congress members who “oppose” and “criticize” the wars. The new Coalition Against War Spending is inviting more candidates, including all incumbents, and national organizations to join. The 84 candidates who have already signed on are from 27 different states and Washington, D.C., and include 31 Greens, 24 Libertarians, 21 Democrats, 4 Independents, 1 Republican, 1 Socialist, and 2 Peace and Freedom Party members (and more may be added to the website by the time you read this). Seventy-three are candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, and 11 for the Senate.
The U.S. Senate passed $33.5 billion to escalate the war in Afghanistan last month, and the House is likely to take up the same bill in the coming days or weeks.
Members of the Coalition Against War Spending do not all agree with each other on many topics, including their reasons for opposing war spending. But they all back this short statement:
“The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost Americans over $1 trillion in direct costs, and over $3 trillion altogether. At a time when our national debt exceeds $13 trillion, we can no longer afford these wars. It’s time for Congress to reject any funding except to bring all our troops safely home.“
SIGNED BY CANDIDATES AND ORGANIZATIONS:
Candidates for U.S. House of Representatives: Ken Adler, AR-01, Batesville, Green | Statement Nick Coons, AZ-05, Tempe/Scottsdale, Libertarian | Statement Rebecca Schneider, AZ-06, Phoenix, Democrat Richard Grayson, AZ-06, Apache Junction, Green | Statement Carol Wolman, CA-01, northwest corner, Green Clint Curtis CA-04, northeast corner, Democrat | Statement Ben Emery CA-04, Nevada City, Green Eugene E Ruyle, CA-06, Marin/Sonoma, Peace and Freedom | Statement Jeremy Cloward, CA-10, Pleasant Hill, Green | Statement Mark Williams, CA-12, San Carlos, Libertarian Mary V. Larkin, CA-17, Monterey, Libertarian | Statement Les Marsden, CA-19, Yosemite/Mariposa, Democrat | Statement Randall Weissbuch, CA-26, Arcadia, Libertarian Richard R. Castaldo, CA-30, Peace and Freedom Party Marcy Winograd, CA-36, Los Angeles, Democrat | Video William Hedrick, CA-44, Riverside/San Clemente, Democrat Ken Arnold, CA-46, Orange and L.A., Democrat | Statement Mike Paster, CA-49, Fallbrook, Libertarian Tracy Emblem, CA-50, San Diego, Democrat | Statement Michael Benoit, CA-52, San Diego, Libertarian Lisa Ann Green, CA-53, Venice, Green Gary Swing, CO-01, Denver, Green | Statement Jerell Klaver, CO-05, Manitou Springs, Libertarian | Statement G. Scott Deshefy, CT-02, New London, Green Doug Tudor, FL-12, Riverview et al, Democrat Marleine Bastien, FL-17, North Miami, Democrat Regina Thomas, GA-12, Savannah, Democrat Matt Reichel, IL-05, Chicago, Green Bill Scheurer, IL-08, Lindenhurst, Green / Independent Rodger Jennings, IL-12, Alton, Green Doug Marks, IL-14, Carpentersville, Libertarian | Statement Sheldon Schafer, IL-18, Peoria, Green John Duncan, IN-04, Libertarian | Statement John Wayne Cunningham, IN-08, Terre Haute, Libertarian | Statement James E. “Jim” Holbert, KY-05, London, Democrat | Statement Philip Dunkelbarger, MA-09, Westwood, Independent | Statement Peter White, MA-10, Cape Cod, Independent Charlie Shick, MI-03, Wyoming, Green Anna Janek, MI-09, West Bloomfield, Republican Diana Longrie, MN-04, Democrat | Statement Michael Cavlan, MN-05, Minneapolis, Independent Progressive | Statement Kevin Craig, MO-07, Springfield, Libertarian William OBrien, MO-09, Mexico, Libertarian | Statement Thomas Hill, NC-08, Fayetteville, Libertarian Lon Cecil, NC-12, High Point, Libertarian Anthony Gronowicz, NY-07, New York City, Green Jonathan Tasini, NY-15, New York City, Democrat | Statement | Video Emin Eddie Egriu, NY-28, Buffalo, Democrat Marc Johnston, OH-02, Blue Ash, Libertarian | Statement Chris Henry, OR-01, Portland, Green Michael Meo, OR-03, Portland, Green | Statement Ebert G. Beeman, PA-03, Lake Erie, Libertarian | Statement Vernon Etzel, PA-05, Oil City, Libertarian Ed Bortz, PA-14, Pittsburgh, Green | Statement Jake Towne, PA-15, Nazareth, Independent | Statement David Segal, RI-01, Providence, Democrat Robert A. Dobbs, SC-01, Myrtle Beach, Green | Statement Eric Schechter, TN-05, Nashville, Democrat Christopher J. Claytor, TX-03, Plano, Libertarian | Statement James Arthur Strohm, TX-21, Austin/San Antonio/Kerrville, Libertarian | Statement Steve Susman, TX-22, Houston, Libertarian | Statement Martin Nitschke, TX-23, El Paso to San Antonio, Libertarian | Statement John Jay Myers, TX-32, Dallas, Libertarian | Statement Claudia Wright, UT-02, Salt Lake City, Democrat Gail Parker, VA-01, Green John Kelly, VA-03, Green Janet Murphy, VA-04, Green Ron Fisher, VA-08, Arlington, Independent Green/Progressive David Gillis, VA-11, Green Larry Kalb, WA-02, northwest corner, Democrat Diana McGinness, WA-02, Bellingham, Democrat | Statement Roy Olson, WA-09, Olympia, Green | Statement Natale Straccuzzi, Washington D.C., Green
Candidates for U.S. Senate: Duane Roberts, CA, Green | Statement Gail K Lightfoot, CA, Libertarian | Statement John Finger, CO, Libertarian | Statement Bob Kinsey, CO, Green | Statement Richard A. Weir, NC, Green | Statement Cecile Lawrence, NY, Green Dan La Botz, OH, Socialist | Statement Rick Staggenborg, OR, Green Mel Packer, PA, Green | Statement Ben Masel, WI, Democrat (2012)
Organizations: Backbone Campaign BuzzFlash Campaign Corner: A Home for Progressive Populist Candidates | Statement Campaign for Peace and Democracy CODE PINK: Women for Peace Consumers for Peace The Democratic Activist Democrats.com End US Wars Global Exchange Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space Global Peace Green Change | Statement Jobs for Afghans | Statement Justice Through Music Liberty Tree Military Families Speak Out National Education Association Peace and Justice Caucus Peace Majority Report Progressive Democrats of America Progressive Push Proposition One Campaign Rethink Afghanistan Velvet Revolution Veterans For Peace Voters For Peace War Criminals Watch WarIsACrime.org
READ ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS FROM SIGNERS.
WATCH VIDEOS FROM SIGNERS.
NB: The candidates and organizations listed here are not endorsing each other, and many strongly disagree with each other on many issues. But all fully support the statement at the top.
ADD YOUR NAME AS A CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE OR A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
|