| This is the first time The Home News has come out for a MoveOn (& peace group) petition/letter delivery at a congressional office (at least of the ones I've been to in Central Jersey). The picture took up most of the above the fold front page of the 'local' section.
Pallone wasn't happy that the article didn't mention that he had voted against the war or that he voted against the previous supplemental spending for the war, but the upside is that it may spur him to write an OpEd.
WAR'S END DEMANDED
Protesters meet at Pallone's New Bruns. office
NEW BRUNSWICK - About 20 members of various anti-war groups gathered in the Church Street office of Rep. Frank Pallone, D-6th Dist., Thursday afternoon to rally for an end to the war in Iraq. Group members also said they seek a de-escalation of the war of words with Iran.
The constituents' one-hour session with Pallone officials - equal parts teach-in, lobbying effort and critique of elected officials - also made clear they want Pallone to vote against President Bush's request for a $93 billion appropriation to help fund the war in Iraq.
"We need true leaders that are going to say "no' to this president and this war," one protester said.
The group also expressed its misgiving with what some characterized as war profiteering and with poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where wounded troops returning from war are treated.
Pallone was in Trenton Thursday to attend Gov. Jon S. Corzine's budget speech. Pallone, however, is scheduled to meet with ... the Central Jersey Coalition to End the War...
The Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War, US Labor Against the War, Monmouth Co. Dem for America and Monmouth Co. Greens (about 8 of us) met with Cong. Pallone last Friday.
Pallone is standing by his promise to not vote for the Supplemental (he has never voted for one in the past), even if there are conditions put on it, as Murtha intends to do.
He said Woolsey asks him often to sign on to her bill to end the war, HR 508. His problem with it is that it has too much stuff in it. He'd like a simpler bill and is signed on to Murtha's withdrawal plan, but he'll look at Woolsey again. He appeared not to have heard the objection to Murtha's `over the horizon' concept - that the troops will be ready to go back in and probably will.
He again said he would look into Jones and DeFazio on requiring Bush to get authorization before attacking Iran. He agreed there is reason to worry about what the administration might do. We discussed whether legislation following the Union of Concerned Scientists recommendation barring the US from using nuclear weapons could be initiated.
He is a co-sponsor of Rothman's condemnation of Ahmedinejad for holding the conference of holocaust deniers, which includes Bush-like language about Iran's uranium enrichment program and language defending Israel's right to defend itself. He wasn't aware of how it feeds into administration rhetoric, but won't reverse his co-sponsorship.
The issue of depleted uranium was brought up. [CJC had previously asked the Congressman to sign on to the "Depleted Uranium Munitions Study Act of 2003" (HR 1483IH).] There doesn't appear to be any current legislation regarding this issue.
He will consider drafting legislation that would go further towards undoing the Military Commissions Act. He again said he wouldn't consider impeachment.
He said legislation on Katrina will be coming up in the next couple of weeks. |
