Chris Dodd for President

As we reported yesterday, 35 Arizona State Legislators signed a letter to President Bush and Congress urging quick passage of Senator Dodd's legislation capping the number of troops in Iraq and requiring further Congressional authorization for any future increase in troop levels. Today comes word from Connecticut, where 117 State Representatives and Senators issued a letter supporting Dodd's legislation as well. That means more than 150 state legislators have specifically singled out Senator Dodd's proposals on Iraq as the best course of action in fixing the Bush Administration's failed policy. Here's what Connecticut legislators wrote:

February 15, 2007 Dear Honorable Representatives and Senators: We write to show our opposition to the President’s planned escalation in the number of US troops deployed in Iraq. U.S. involvement in Iraq has already resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 US soldiers, not to mention the more than 22,000 U.S. military personnel that have been wounded and disabled. The proposed escalation will only increase these numbers The proposed escalation further extends National Guard tours in Iraq. As of November 2006, there are 970 Connecticut National Guard soldiers deployed overseas, in addition to those that are serving with the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.[1] The costs to Connecticut as a result of the call-up of National Guard members for deployment are significant, as of September 2006, the war effort had cost Connecticut over nine billion dollars.[2] The total cost is measured not only in dollars but also in lost lives, combat injuries and psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individuals, families and businesses. This disruption is damaging the fundamental fabric of civil life in Connecticut communities. More than $357 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq to date. This money could instead fund desperately needed education, health care, housing, nutrition and other social services in our communities. Previous budgets prioritizing Iraq have led to cuts in critical block grants for states and have increased the federal debt, which compounded by interest payments, will likely lead to even larger cuts in funding for critical needs in the States. Further, polls show that the vast majority of Americans do not support increasing the number of troops in Iraq. Connecticut voters oppose the war by more than 2 to 1, with approximately the same margin saying they want some of all of the troops to be withdrawn.[3] Most military experts oppose escalation in Iraq and press reports indicate that even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have opposed this strategy. Legal experts on all sides have determined that Congress has not only broad authority, but a long tradition of limiting escalation or forcing redeployment of troops through the Constitutionally-designated power of the purse. Along these lines, Senator Christopher Dodd has introduced legislation mandating that any new troop deployment for Iraq must be approved by Congress. Senator Dodd’s bill is bold, direct, and forceful: no more troops. Period. We demand all Members of Connecticut's congressional delegation and Congress as a whole to support Sen. Dodd's legislation immediately. For these reasons, at a time when the Iraq Study Group, leading military and diplomatic officials and allies around the world are calling for a reduction in troops and withdrawal of the U.S. from Iraq, we the undersigned call for Congress to stop the escalation of troop numbers in Iraq. American troops have valiantly upheld their duty in Iraq under dire circumstances. Escalation of troops would only result in more deaths and further strain our already over-burdened troops. Second, at a bare minimum, the President should obtain explicit approval from Congress before any troop escalation occurs. Finally, we call for Congress to pass legislation prohibiting the President from spending taxpayer dollars on an escalation in Iraq without first seeking Congressional approval. Respectfully yours, Reps. Donovan, Green, Bartlett, Gonzalez, Roldan, Kirkley-Bey, Feltman, McCrory, Lewis, Stone, Genga, Christ, Barry, Thompson, McMahon, Scholfield, Fleischmann, Bye, McCluskey, Giannaros, Boukus, O'Brien, Geragosian, Tercyak, Nafis, Morin, Guerrera, Aresimowicz, Kehoe, O'Rourke, Backer, Hamm, O'Connor, Spallone, Jutila, Ritter, Hewett, Moukawsher, Wright, Urban, Mikutel, Olson, Malone, Orange, Pawelkiewicz, Johnston, Hurlburt, Merrill, Tallarita, Jarmoc, Sayers, Wilber, Willis, Butler, Berger, Alderondo, Mazurek, Zalaski, Altobello, Abercrombie, Mushinsky, Fontana, Sharkey, Nardello, Fritz, Villano, Dillon, Walker, Dyson, Candelaria, Staples, Megna, Widlitz, Lawlor, Heinrich, Panaroni, Gentile, Taborsak, Godfrey, Dargan, Esposito, Davis, Roy, Clemons, Caruso, Henessey, Ayala, Keeley, Reinoso, Drew, Fawcett, Christiano, Mioli, Perone, Ryan, Morris, Shapiro, Truglia, Fox, Tong, Leone Sens. Williams, Colapietro, Coleman, Daily, DeFronzo, Doyle, Fonfara, Gaffey, Gomes, Handley, Harp, Harris, Looney, McDonald, Prague, Stillman, Williams