Boca Raton Democrat Ron Klein, who defeated former Rep. Clay Shaw by criticizing his support for the war in Iraq, is leading the 47 freshmen Dems in asking House leaders to require that U.S. funding for reconstruction, training and fuel in Iraq be repaid out of Iraqi oil revenues.
"I am proud to stand beside these distinguished colleagues and say that after five years and 600 billion American taxpayer dollars spent in Iraq, enough is enough," Klein said. "The freshman class represents dramatic diversity, and when all of us stand united on any one issue, it is time to stand up and take note."
Klein also has proposed a House resolution calling on all future funding provided by the U.S. to the government of Iraq for reconstruction, training for security forces and fuel be provided as a loan. His legislation also requires the Iraqi government to use its own budget surplus for reconstruction projects before U.S. reconstruction aid is used.
Here's the letter:
The Honorable Dave Obey, Chair Committee on Appropriations
The Honorable John P. Murtha, Chair Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations
Dear Chairman Obey and Chairman Murtha,
As you work with our colleagues to craft upcoming spending bills, we ask you to consider language emphasizing the government of Iraq’s cost-sharing responsibility.
With so many competing priorities, from emergency domestic spending to funding for our national security, it is clear that taxpayer dollars will be stretched thin. As you know, with the amount of money that we have spent in Iraq, we could fund virtually every emergency domestic priority in this country, as well as fully fund the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. As new Members of Congress, we hope to be able to return to our districts with news that Congress is asking the Iraqi government to stand up for itself.
Specifically, we hope that you will consider language in upcoming spending bills that requires the Government of Iraq to take more ownership over the reconstruction projects and training for security forces. Additionally, the Iraqi government should take responsibility for the $153 million per month that the United States Government spends on fuel in Iraq. Both the American and Iraqi people will gain from increased involvement of the Iraqi government in these endeavors.
Whether our colleagues support or oppose the Iraq war strategy, we can all agree that when it comes to the $600 billion in American taxpayer dollars that we have spent over the last five years, we must find another way. American taxpayers are spending $339 million a day in Iraq. The amount of money we spend in Iraq each day could house 48,000 homeless veterans, hire over 2,000 new Border Patrol guards for a year or give 2.6 million uninsured Americans access to health care. We write to you in the hopes that you will agree that it is time for us to pursue this issue in a more fiscally responsible manner.
Sincerely,
Ron Klein (FL-22), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Chris Murphy (CT-05), John Yarmuth (KY-03),Hank Johnson (GA-04), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01),Harry Mitchell (AZ-05), Albio Sires (NJ-13), Paul Hodes (NH-02),Steve Kagen (WI-08),Mazie Hirono (HI-02),Kathy Castor (FL-11),Kirstin Gillibrand (NY-20),Joe Sestak (PA-07),Jason Altmire (PA -04),Tim Mahoney (FL- 16),Brad Ellsworth (IN-08),Bruce Braley (IA-01), Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), Phil Hare (IL-17), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Nancy Boyda (KS-02), Steve Cohen (TN-09), John Sarbanes (MD-03), Laura Richardson (CA-37), Nick Lampson (TX-22), Tim Walz (MN-01), Patrick Murphy (PA-08), Chris Carney (PA-10), Mike Arcuri (NY-24), Andre Carson (IN-07) Betty Sutton (OH-13), Charlie Wilson (OH-06), Bill Foster (IL-14), Jackie Speier (CA-12), Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-11), Heath Shuler (NC-11), John Hall (NY-19), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Peter Welch (VT-AL), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), Zach Space (OH-18), Nikki Tsongas (MA-05), Joe Donnelly (IN-02) Baron Hill (IN-09).
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