Clean Emergency Appropriations Bill

We call upon you to honor President Bush's request to present him with a clean (1, 2, 3) emergency supplemental appropriations bill. In doing so, we add our voices to those of:

- 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.

Congress has a vital role to play in the formation of our country's foreign policies, but it must be done in as bipartisan a fashion as possible to ensure that "... America speaks with maximum authority against those who would divide and conquer us and the free world." Provoking a confrontation with President Bush over emergency funds, some of which are destined to support our troops in Iraq, is the worst possible way to attain that goal. A few of the items you added to this emergency legislation, especially the minimum wage raise and troop withdrawal timetables, are important enough to be debated and voted on by themselves. They need to be removed, as should all the other extraneous items you have added to this legislation!