By Sharon Abreu
A Conversation Café will discuss the cost of the wars on May 18
The Washington State Democratic Party passed a resolution last weekend calling on federal legislators from Washington State to oppose further funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and also to take leadership to bring our troops and tax dollars home. The resolution, written and passed by the San Juan County Democrats on March 19, was approved without objection by the 40th Legislative District Democrats on March 27 and by the Washington State Democrats on April 30.
“It is important for local voters to know that the taxpayers of San Juan County are to date collectively paying or have become indebted for over $64.9 million, and the taxpayers of Washington State for over $28.6 billion, in total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. The taxpayers in San Juan County will pay $5.5 million will pay in 2011 for the war in Afghanistan,” says Rena Patty, chair of the San Juan County Democratic Party.
“The Washington State government is facing a nearly $5 billion shortfall in the 2011-13 budget, while at the same time federal budget cuts, according to news reports from around the state, are expected to reduce funding in Washington State for college Pell grants, low income housing, senior and youth centers, job training, Puget Sound clean-up and salmon recovery, flood control, transportation, and veteran housing vouchers.
“The ongoing warfare poses great physical danger to the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Representative Rick Larsen has voted in favor of more than one trillion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. We are calling upon our U.S. Senators and Representatives to end the wars and bring our troops and tax dollars home.”
Call to leave a message for Senator Patty Murray at (202) 224-2621, Senator Maria Cantwell at 202-224-3441, and Representative Rick Larsen at (202) 225-2605.
Sharon Abreu and Rena Patty, precinct committee officers for the SJC Democratic Party, will host a Conversation Café to discuss the cost of the wars, on May 18, 6:30-8:30 pm, at the Orcas Island Senior Center.
This is one of the very rare circumstances in which conservatives should emulate liberals who are, in another very rare circumstance, emulating libertarians…a pattern seen none to often.