Posted on 02/06/2003 9:23:50 AM PST by ROCKLOBSTER
SENATE PAPERS (1-1) The following Joint Resolution: (S.P. 163)
JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT THE FULL PURSUIT OF DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTIONS AND WEAPONS INSPECTIONS
WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the United States, as follows:
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for genuine multilateral action to eliminate weapons of mass destruction worldwide; and
WHEREAS, most governments around the world oppose unilateral action regarding Iraq and support the full pursuit of diplomatic resolutions and weapons inspections before any further military action is taken against Iraq; and
WHEREAS, a war with Iraq will jeopardize the lives of American soldiers and will kill many innocent Iraqi civilians who have already suffered enormously under Saddam Hussein's rule and sanctions of the United Nations; and
WHEREAS, a United States military attack on Iraq threatens the stability of the Middle East region; and
WHEREAS, military action will likely result in a long-term United States military presence; and
WHEREAS, conflict in the area may result in the widespread destruction of the environment and the civilian infrastructure of Iraq; and
WHEREAS, military expenditures will cause ballooning federal budget deficits, further weakening an already sluggish economy and ensuring reductions in federal aid to the State; and
WHEREAS, the State of Maine is suffering from a fiscal crisis such that its ability to stabilize the taxes of the people of the State is being threatened, and programs that benefit working people and the poor are being threatened by severe budget cuts; and
WHEREAS, it has been estimated that a war in Iraq would likely cost the United States taxpayers over $100 billion which would include $267,000,000 from Maine taxpayers, an amount that could go a long way to meeting our health and education needs; and
WHEREAS, if the country does go to war, this resolution should in no way be interpreted as not supporting our troops, and We, your Memorialists, stand in full and unwavering support of our brave men and women of the Armed Forces whenever they are called into action; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request that the President of the United States support the full pursuit of diplomatic resolutions and weapons inspections; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation and the Governor of the State of Maine.
Comes from the Senate, READ and ADOPTED.
Please call the Maine State House at (207) 287-1400 to express your opposition, or go to www.maine.gov and e-mail the Speaker of the House, the Majority leader John Richardson (D) or the new governor John Baldacci (D).
Any expenditures arrising from the liberation of the iraqi people should be paid for by oil sales originating from the iraqi oil fields. Seems fair to me.
If I remember correctly, Gulf War I cost about $15 billion and our allies picked up about $9 billion of that, mostly the Japanese.
Sure, rub it in :-)
Hurrah for them! An oasis of sanity.
It's so reassuring that the Maine Legislature's top priority is to morph into Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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