Latest from the CPC

Congressional Progressive Caucus
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72 Strong and Growing: Open to New and Different Ideas
http:cpc.lee.house.gov

For Immediate Release Contacts: Bill Goold (CPC) (202-226-4055)
September 26, 2007 Chris Shields (Woolsey) (202-225-5187) Nathan Britton (Lee) (202-225-2661)

PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS MEMBERS ADOPT TOUGHER POLICY STANCE ON IRAQ

Washington, D.C. –

The Co-Chairs of the Progressive Caucus – U.S. Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) – today announced that Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Members have approved an even stronger policy position with regard to U.S. policy in Iraq than when they were the first bloc within this Congress last February to call for all U.S. troops and military contractors to come home.
“By more than a two-to-one margin, the American people want to bring our troops and military contractors home and we members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus are listening and more determined than ever to accomplish this goal. In adopting this policy statement, Progressive Caucus Members are making clear that we will oppose any bills or amendments brought to the House floor henceforth that pertain specifically to bringing our troops and military contractors
home, but do not include in their text a clear timeline and date certain for the redeployment of U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq,” Rep. Woolsey underscored.
"As progressives, we are keeping faith with our constituents and a clear majority of the American people who want to end President Bush's failed policy in Iraq and bring our troops home," said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA). "Republicans are going to have to decide if they will continue to stand with the President, supporting an open-ended commitment to his failed policy, or with the majority of Americans, who want to bring our brave men and women home."

Congressional Progressive Caucus
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“72 Strong and Growing” --http://cpc.lee.house.gov
[Note: 11 new Members added in 110th Congress raising total Caucus Membership to 72, just 5 short of equaling 1/3 of the entire Democratic Caucus and by far the most diverse Caucus in the 110thth Congress.]

U.S. Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-California) and Barbara Lee (D-California), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), issued the following strongly-worded position on Iraq today on behalf of CPC Members:

CPC POSITION ON U.S. POLICY IN IRAQ

Over the last four years, the insurgency in Iraq has strengthened and sectarian violence has increased. Furthermore, the current situation on the ground in Iraq is grave and rapidly deteriorating. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) has determined accordingly that a predominantly military approach is no longer a viable solution to stabilizing Iraq.

We will oppose any bills or amendments brought to the House floor henceforth that pertain specifically to bringing our troops and military contractors home, but do not include in their text a clear timeline and date certain for the redeployment of U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq.

We are committed to bringing all of the U.S. troops and military contractors in Iraq home in a six-month time frame as part of a fully-funded redeployment plan.

More specifically, we oppose sending additional U.S. troops and military contractors to Iraq and favor binding votes to block President Bush’s escalation of U.S. military involvement in Iraq.

We believe all appropriations for U.S. involvement in Iraq must be for the protection of our troops and military contractors until and during their withdrawal within six months of the date of enactment of this limitation and for diplomatic initiatives, economic reconstruction, and reconciliation. The President has left the Congress few alternatives other than to use the power of the purse spelled out in Article I of the U.S. Constitution to curtail U.S. military operations in Iraq.

Finally, we are opposed to establishing any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq, support rescinding the President’s Iraq war authority, and support greater diplomatic and political engagement in the region, while ensuring that the Iraqi people have control over their own petroleum resources.

***End OF Release***

I can only hope that the caucus will hold firm in their stated resolve and can be more persuasive with the "Blue Dogs" than the Republicans have been in the past.

Not One More Dime - Not One More Life

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue