Locally concerned citizens and the Congressional District 20 Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) will be holding a “Cost of Iraq” Town Hall Meeting at 360 Warren St., Hudson NY on April 27th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Guest speakers will include Elliott Adams, National President of the Veterans for Peace; May Saffar, originally of Baghad, Iraq, a professor of Arabic at Union College, founder of Iraqis in Exile, local resident, and mother of three; and Dan Black, Iraq Veterans Against the War. The main topic will be the impact that the continued occupation of Iraq has on our daily lives and the lives of others. Open and free to the public.

Petition to Stop Funding the Iraq War

With Congressional debate on a $100 billion supplemental appropriation for the war in Iraq expected to begin next week and voting to take place in late April / early May, we need to let Congress know now: NO MORE FUNDING FOR WAR. Please help us deliver this message to Congresswoman Gillibrand by gathering petition signatures from residents in your area. The petition form can be downloaded at: http://www.pdanewyork.org/files/pdanewyork/IraqWarFundingPetition.doc.

Please gather as many signatures as you can and return them by mail to the address at the bottom of the form. We would like to deliver the first batch of signed petitions to Congresswoman Gillibrand the week of April 21st – before the vote takes place – so please aim to return them that week. If we get enough signatures, we may be able to get some press coverage of this effort.

On December 15th, representatives of a local chapter of Progressive Democrats of America for the 20th Congressional District brought their concerns to Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand. Meeting with her regional representative, Phil Giltner, activists called on Gillibrand to stop funding the war in Iraq. The human and financial costs of this catastrophe are astronomical, including ongoing exposure to depleted uranium. The Democratic response to the President’s continued threats to veto legislation containing a timetable for withdrawal should not be to capitulate and give him more money. Nor should they resign themselves to waiting out Bush’s tenure, a strategy which aside from being morally unconscionable is politically feeble and obtuse, there being no guarantees that the Democrats will retake the White House in 2009.

Co CD 20 Point Persons are:

Rich Kinney richkinney2006@hotmail.com (Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County)

Jim McCabe progclav@yahoo.com (Claverack, Columbia County)

Meeting Invite: Columbia, Greene, Dutchess, Rensselaer Progressive Democrats of New York's 20th Congressional District – let’s get organized

Saturday, November 3rd, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Claverack , New York

RSVP by Nov 1st to Jim McCabe progclav@yahoo.com for directions.

Agenda

1. Introductions
2. Brief Overview of Progressive Democrats of America www.pdamerica.org and Top 5 Priorities
a. End the War—Redirect Funding
b. Healthcare for All
c. Economic Justice
d. Clean, Fair, Transparent Elections
e. Stop Global Warming
3. Planning for a Meeting with Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand.

United States House of Representatives:

• Representative Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY 20th) [external link]

United States Senate:

• Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) [external link]
• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) [external link]