Clean C

We remind you that the vast majority of Americans believe that partisan politics should be strictly avoided in conducting foreign affairs. In a huge melting-pot nation such as ours, a nonpartisan foreign policy is the only way to ensure that, "... America speaks with maximum authority against those who would divide and conquer us and the free world." We also remind you that the distinguished Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group introduced their group's report with these words of caution, "... U.S. foreign policy is doomed to failure---as is any course of action in Iraq---if it is not supported by a broad, sustained consensus."

The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007 (HR 1591) has failed our country thus far in both respects. Its recent passage by Congress (House: 218-212, Senate: 51-47) fell far short of establishing a consensus, and even those slim majorities had to be bought in a partisan fashion with $billions (1, 2) in unrelated spending. In addition, President Bush has repeatedly pledged to veto it unless he is presented with a clean bill that, "... provides the funds and the flexibility that our troops need to accomplish their mission." In demanding the removal of extraneous items from these emergency supplemental appropriations, he is supported by a large number of respected individuals and organizations representing a broad cross-section of American society. Among others, they include the national commanders of the VFW and American Legion; over 90 organizations supporting the Living Wage Campaign; and 8 citizen groups that are deeply concerned about controlling government spending.

Although we might individually disagree with President Bush on a number of important issues, including his policies in Iraq, we are unanimous in urging you to do all you can to ensure that he is presented with a CLEAN BILL as expeditiously as possible. We recognize that combining a large number of unrelated items into a single bill has been done in the past, and that it may be justified in some cases. We believe, however, that such tactics are thoroughly out of place when dealing with foreign affairs or domestic matters as important as raising our nation's minimum wage!