For Immediate Release: March 16, 2006
Contacts: Kimberly Allen, (202) 226-8364; (571) 232-8037 [cell]
Congressman Rothman's Statement on His Vote Against the Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill
Today, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) voted against a $91.8 billion emergency supplemental spending bill, most of which would directly fund President Bush's ongoing war in Iraq. Last month, Rothman publicly announced why he believes the U.S. should withdraw all American troops from Iraq. This vote is the first time Rothman has voted against an emergency supplemental spending bill for the Iraq War. Congressman Rothman's statement on his vote follows:
"With my vote against today's supplemental spending bill, I am telling the President that he cannot count on me to continue paying for his stay the course strategy in Iraq. We must withdraw all our troops within six months, returning most of them home and leaving a quick-reaction force in the region.
As a Congressman, I have supported every defense bill and every measure designed to give our military every resource it needs to succeed in its heroic mission. The bill we voted on tonight is designed to prop up the President's failed policy in Iraq, which has cost too many American lives, tarnished America's image abroad, nearly exhausted our military and taken our attention away from the War on Terrorism.
"While there are other worthy projects in this bill, they could have been voted on separately. The President has cynically chosen to dare members to vote against his strategy in Iraq by tying that money to Hurricane Relief and Darfur aid. I refuse to be limited by his unacceptable choices. There is a smarter course for this country than the President's."
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