The New Hampshire House has called on the President to withdraw troops from Iraq.
Legislators approved the non-binding resolution after a heated debate on the house floor.
As New Hampshire Public Radio’s Amy Quinton reports, a large number of lawmakers filed a formal protest against the measure.
Despite having dozens of controversial bills to sort through, House lawmakers spent more than two hours debating a non-binding resolution on Iraq.
The resolution calls on President Bush to withdraw troops from the region – but sets no deadline.
Henniker Democrat Eleanor Kjellman (jellman), a former air force officer whose son also served in Iraq, spoke in favor of the measure.
(it is our duty to question the conduct of the war, the wisdom of broadening it, the repeated deployment of many of our troops, particularly the reserve component which contains so many of our first responders in our communities, it is our duty to ask when will it end?)
Lawmakers moved the issue forward on the schedule after it became clear that several servicemen, including soldiers just returning from Iraq, were sitting in the House gallery.
The resolution also called for the President to fully fund all benefits to veterans.
Chesterfield Democrat Timothy Butterworth says those in favor support the military and the troops in Iraq, but not the policies that put them there.
1102 2:01 To vote against those wars is not voting against our soldiers, we have to speak out, that’s our obligation as citizens and its our obligation as representatives, and we should express our opinion, its very important to me that our visitors today hear that distinction.
An amendment – originally supported by a majority on the Veterans Affairs committee - asked the President to withdraw troops… but not until the quote “task†was completed.
Londonderry Republican Alfred Baldasaro, a marine corp veteran, supported that amendment.
He says the United States needs to finish what it started.
(if we don’t take care of business today, and I’ve been there in 1990, we’re going back whether we like it or not, we might as well wake up and smell the coffee)
But that amendment failed.
Critics of the resolution said the measure would mean little in Washington, but instead would end up hurting the troops' morale.
Alton Republican Michael Whalley made an impassioned speech on the House floor -- asking lawmakers not to send the wrong message to soldiers.
But in the end, the resolution passed 214 to 151.
(well I think it stinks, my experience here in 14 years I’ve never had a more sad feeling about what the house has done, we have said to our troops we’re not going to support you, and anybody who thinks otherwise, has not talked to a veteran or a member of our military or a member of their family)
Some lawmakers were so upset with the outcome that in a somewhat unusual move, large numbers filed before the speaker to formally protest.
(nat sound)
Whitefield Republican John Tholl (thawl) Junior, an air force veteran was one of the lawmakers who protested.
1110, its going to get out to those who would do harm to our troops and reinvigorate those who want to hurt our people over there and its such a strong issue in my heart that I’m removing my legislative plates from my car.
Several Democrats – including Nashua Representative Bette Lasky – says the protest was just political grandstanding.
While she voted in favor of the resolution, she said the whole process was a distraction.
I believe it’s disruptive to discuss these kinds of things in this house, not that there’s not a place for it, but inevitably it was going to turn to this and we have a lot of important business to discuss for the people of this state.
A lot of that business was left undone.
And several important bills may not be voted on until next week.
For NHPR news, I’m Amy Quinton.
