Washington Delegation visits Senators
October 1, 2007, Seattle, WA
September 24--Progressive Democrats of America, playing it’s customary role of partnering with outside-the-party organizations, met with the legislative aides of Senator’s Cantwell and Murray this week on our number one issue—the war and occupation in Iraq. At the meeting were Mike Yarrow, of the SNOW coalition; Ellen Finkelstein, of Fellowship of Reconciliation; Nina Laboy, of American Friends Service Committee; John Repp, of West Seattle Neighbors for Peace; Chanan Suaraz Diaz, of Iraq Veterans Against War; Michael Ramos and Sandy Brown of the Interfaith Council of Churches; the Reverend Sharon Moe of the Regional Methodist Churches; Steve Ludwig, of Ballard Neighbors for Peace; Kate Hunter, of Vashon Island Neighbors for Peace; David Freiboth of the MLK Labor Council; and Judith Shattuck, of Progressive Democrats of America. This delegation met with Ardis Dumet, Senator Murray’s director of special projects, and Nate Caminos, Senator Cantwell’s legislative aide.
During the meeting, one of several that have taken place over the last year with the Senator’s or their aides, a number of specific issues were addressed:
- Can the senators push to simply take the money for the war out of the appropriation bill? This would give Congress more bargaining power with the president.
- Can the senators push for substantial aide for the 4-6 milliion Iraqi refugees both in Iraq and in neighboring countries?
- Can the senators initiate an exploration of ways to minimize the
disruption and conflicts which may happen with the US withdrawal? Would they sponsor, with our help, town hall meetings in Seattle and across the state and in D.C.?
- What have the senators learned about the proposed Iraqi oil law,
which was written in the U.S.? [We have learned that it involved production-sharing agreements which force Iraq to lease major energy resources to big oil companies for 30 years. The companies would be
allowed to reap huge profits. If this is true the senators need to bring it to light!]
- Nate and Ardis stressed that Murray had voted for the Feingold-Reid amendment and Cantwell would have if she had not become ill. Both stressed the need to put pressure on the other 70 senators who voted against it. We asked which ones might move on the issue and how might they be approached.
The delegation will push for answers to these and other issues surrounding the continued occupation of Iraq and subsequently act, through further dialog, as it becomes apparent what is needed to continue to move our Senators toward ending this nightmare.
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