VFP Chapter 111

House Rejects War Funding, Tossing That Job to Senate

The House on Thursday refused to provide more funds for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, effectively delegating that task to the Senate for now.

The House voted 141-149, with 132 Republicans voting present, to reject the war funding portion of the supplemental spending bill. The vote means the Senate will have to add the money to the bill. The Senate Appropriations Committee meanwhile was marking up its version of the measure. Rick Larsen voted to appropriate additional war funding - $162.5 billion.

House Republicans withheld their votes for the war funding amendment to the bill (HR 2642) in a bid to force Democrats to come up with enough votes to adopt the funds. But a majority of Democrats voted against the war funding.

The House then adopted, 227-196, the second of three amendments comprising their overall proposal. It would set a Dec. 31, 2009, goal for withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq, require any agreement between the United States and Iraq committing U.S. forces to be specifically authorized by Congress, and mandate that U.S. reconstruction aid for Iraq be matched dollar-for-dollar by Iraq’s government. Larsen voted for this amendment.

And finally, the House voted 256-166 for an amendment that would greatly expand GI Bill educational benefits for veteran, extend unemployment benefits for 13 weeks beyond the normal 26 weeks and suspend implementation of seven Bush administration Medicaid regulations that would shift costs to the states. Larsen voted in favor of this amendment.

Democrats split up the bill in order to allow members opposed to the war to vote against providing more funding but for a timeline to withdraw troops as well as the domestic items.

A New G.I. Bill: The Right Thing To Do

Arlington NW Update

Chapter 111 is in “GO” mode for the 2008 4th Annual Peace Arch Park deployment of the Arlington NW Memorial Display for those lost in the Iraq War. We’d been discussing with our fellow Chapter VFP 92 about a contender for the same day, but the Port Townsend folks have decided to back away from a commitment at this time – so we are clear to go forward for Memorial Day – Monday, May 26th.

As you may be aware, the display will be done a bit differently this year due to some new restrictions in the central mall area of the park, but we can still deploy on both sides and up the grassy knoll to the American kitchen.

We’ll hold our first planning session for this year’s event as follows:

What: Peace Arch Arlington NW Memorial Display - PLANNING
Where: Food Co-Op - Swan Café - Forest & Holly St
When: Monday, May 19 @ 6:00 PM
Who: Anyone willing to help out - friends of VFP

If you are not able to make the meeting but are interested in helping, please let Doug know and we’ll keep you in the loop.

The 23rd Annual Veterans For Peace convention will be held in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN August 27 - 30. Anyone who is interested in attending the convention should reserve their hotel rooms NOW! Due to the fact that there are thousands of people planning to be in the Minneapolis area for the Republican National Convention, rooms are very limited. read more

WHEN: FRIDAY, May 16 We’ll be starting up about 6:00 pm (1800 hrs for those who still recall that method).

WHERE: and will be held at our usual meeting place - the Co-Op Annex Meeting Room on the corner of Chestnut and Forest.

Look forward to seeing you – Please come and Plot Peace with some like minded folks!

Doug