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Scores of PDA activists from fifteen states joined hundreds of other activists mobilized by the United For Peace & Justice coalition at a Washington, D.C.-area high school to prepare and train for mass lobbying of Congress on Monday. Members of Congress and congressional staff will soon be visited by hundreds of citizen lobbyists urging steps to bring a quick end to the Iraq occupation.
PDA lobbying is focused heavily on building support and finding co-sponsors for bills introduced by PDA allies and advisory board members -- such as H.R. 508, “The Bring the Troops Home and Iraqi Restoration Act” (Woolsey, Lee and Waters), and Rep. Jim McGovern’s “Safe and Orderly Withdrawal Act.“ Citizen lobbyists will be visiting Senators and Congressmembers urging them to reject the upcoming presidential supplemental request of $100 billion more for the war, and go beyond mere non-binding resolutions against a troop escalation.
Another approach toward quickening the end of the war involves holding the executive branch accountable through Congressional investigations into war lies, profiteering, torture, warrantless wiretaps, and other law-breaking by the White House, including “signing statements” that subvert Congressional authority. In 2005, PDA’s grassroots efforts, in close collaboration with Rep. John Conyers, resulted in House resolutions to investigate administration deception that led to the Iraq war, and to censure Bush and Cheney. This was the beginning of PDA’s ongoing efforts to bridge the antiwar and accountability movements.
One of the highpoints of today’s training day was a spirited, PDA-organized workshop moderated by board chair Mimi Kennedy. Speakers -- including PDA director Tim Carpenter, PDA board member and AfterDowningStreet.org co-founder David Swanson, The Nation’s John Nichols and author Antonia Juhasz -- explained how Congressional oversight, investigations and moves toward impeachment have historically shortened illegal wars of choice.
Swanson and Carpenter emphasized PDA’s inside/outside strategy toward White House accountability, with outside organizing efforts prompting cities and states to call for impeachment -- and strategic investigations into the Bush White House. PDA Advsory Board member Conyers is now launching an investigation into presidential signing statements that void or undermine Congressional action. If various investigations lead to additional calls for impeachment from lawmakers, media and other mainstream voices, the Iraq war will be closer to an end. PDA chapters are urging media to cover growing public calls for impeachment.
At the workshop, more than 100 new people signed up to join the PDA Accountability/Impeachment Working Group. You can sign up here.
After years in the wilderness, Democrats now hold the levers of power on Capitol Hill, and progressive lawmakers are more numerous and wield more clout than ever. Week after week, PDA allies in Congress are launching investigations and introducing new bills -- aimed at ending the war, enacting national health insurance, and other progressive initiatives. PDA is uniquely positioned to promote these initiatives at the grassroots, and to expand citizen involvement in developing future progressive reforms.
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