HOUSE JOINTMEMORIAL 4008, OPPOSING A PREEMPTIVE MILITARY ATTACK ON IRAQ, IN HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
House Bill 4008 is a memorial petition to the government of the United States of America on behalf of the people of the state of Washington opposing a preemptive United States military attack on the nation of Iraq unless it is demonstrated that Iraq poses a real and imminent threat to the security and safety of the United States, supporting the return to Iraq of United Nations weapons inspectors enhanced by sufficient police support to guarantee unfettered access to all targeted sites, and asking that the United States work through the United Nations Security Council and reaffirm our nation¹s commitment to the rule of law in all international affairs.
The bill had its first reading on Friday, January 24, and has been referred to the State Government Committee. So far, it appears that the committee has not scheduled the bill for discussion or hearing. If passed, the bill would not have the force of law. Rather, it would be an exercise of our right as a people to ³petition the Government for redress of grievances² as guaranteed by Amendment I to the Constitution of the United States. If the bill is passed, the memorial will be presented on behalf of all the people of the State. While its terms may fall short of what some of us may wish, they must not exceed that on which the majority of us can, at minimum, agree. I believe this bill deserves our support.
The complete text of the memorial follows at the end of this message.
ACTION: Contact House Leadership and members of the House State Government Committee (listed below), and your two Representatives. Express your support of HB 4008. Tell them why you support the bill. Urge the members of the State Government Committee to consider the bill, hold hearings and report it out of committee. If you feel comfortable doing so, it would be useful to mention if you are a veteran or close to someone who is a veteran, reservist or on active duty.
HOUSE LEADERSHIP
Speaker of the House — Frank Chopp (District 43) (360) 786-7920
Speaker Pro Tempore — John Lovick (District 44) (360) 786-7892
Majority Leader — Lynn Kessler (District 24) (360) 786-7904
Majority Floor Leader — Brian Hatfield (District 19) (360) 786-7806
Assistant Majority Floor Leader — Sam Hunt (District 22) (360) 786-7992
Democratic Caucus Chair — Bill Grant (District 16) (360) 786-7828
Democratic Caucus co-chair — Laura Ruderman (45) (360) 786-7822
Democratic Whip — Sharon Tomiko Santos (District 37) (360) 786-7944
Assistant Democratic Whip — Zack Hudgins (District 33) (360) 786-7956
Assistant Democratic Whip — Dave Upthegrove (District 33)
(360) 786-7868
Assistant Democratic Whip — Deb Wallace (District 17) (360) 786-7976
HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Chair Kathy Haigh (D-District 35) (360) 786-7966
Vice-chair Mark Miloscia (D-District 30) (360) 786-7898
Ranking Minority Member Mike Armstrong (R-District 12) (360) 786-7832
Assistant Ranking Majority Member Jan Shabro (R-District 31)
(360) 786-7866
Sam Hunt (D-District 22) (360) 786-7992
Joe McDermott (D-District 34) (360) 786-7952
Toby Nixon (R-District 45) (360) 786-7878
Rodney Tom (R-District 48) (360) 786-7848
Deb Wallace (D-District 17) (360) 786-7976
Miloscia, Hunt, and McDermott are among the sponsors of the memorial. Be sure to express your appreciation. (A complete list of sponsors follows the text of the memorial below.)
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Senator _______________
PO Box 4048
Olympia, WA 98504-0482
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PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
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HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4008:
TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
WHEREAS, The issues between Iraq and the world community have not proven to be irresoluble by traditional diplomatic efforts; and
WHEREAS, No evidence has been presented that Iraq poses an imminent threat to the security of the United States or the safety of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, Hastily implemented unilateral United States military actions would risk the deaths of thousands of Iraqi civilians without guaranteeing the safety and security of United States citizens, nor would such unilateral actions guarantee the installation of a free and democratic Iraqi government; and
WHEREAS, A preemptive United States military attack would violate international law and our commitments under the United Nations Charter and further isolate the United States from the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS, The massive sums of tax dollars required for a United States-led war in Iraq would be far better spent addressing crisis conditions in Washington and other states, would purloin billions of dollars from the United States economy, compromise our current action in Afghanistan, and require years of nation-building activities in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, The Bush administration has failed to articulate a clear strategic objective or outcome of a military attack against Iraq, and such an attack fails to enjoy the support of many of our important allies; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Washington State Legislature oppose a preemptive United States military attack on Iraq unless it is demonstrated that Iraq poses a real and imminent threat to the security and safety of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Washington State Legislature support a return of United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq, enhanced by sufficient police support to guarantee unfettered access to all targeted sites;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully urge the United States to work through the United Nations Security Council and reaffirm our nation’s commitment to the rule of law in all international relationships.
BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.
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Sponsors are Representatives Simpson, Cody, Miloscia, Dunshee, Veloria, Darneille, Hudgins, Moeller, Dickerson, Hunt, McIntire, Cooper,Flannigan, Chase, Ruderman, Pettigrew and McDermott