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January 10, 2008

Dems take aim at Iraq question

Pioneer Press, Matt Kiefer

Lindenhurst resident Randi Scheurer said she decided to challenge U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, D-8th, of Barrington, in the Feb. 5 Democratic primary because she wants to bring American troops home from Iraq.

Bean voted for war-funding legislation last year that included timelines for phased redeployment of troops out of combat. The withdrawal language Bean supported was ultimately struck down by presidential veto.

So, what would Scheurer do differently?

The challenger said she wouldn't vote for any war funding bills at all. Her timeline for redeployment would be "the next day."

"We stop this war immediately, and we bring our troops home and our money home," said Scheurer, whose youngest son recently spent a year stationed in Iraq with the National Guard.

Bean, who supported U.S. military operations in Iraq prior to winning election in 2004, said the time has come for the Iraqi people to take over security responsibilities and govern themselves as originally intended. Illustrating her point, the two-term incumbent said she personally observed a decline in violence between visits she made to Baghdad's Green Zone with congressional delegations in 2005 and again in 2007.

"So there's definitely been some improvement relative to violence on the ground and relative to Iraqi troops being able to take ownership of the operations," Bean said. "But that's all military progress. Political process has yet to be seen. But we don't own the political process; (Iraq) is a sovereign nation. ... Ultimately, that's up to the Iraqi people."

While both candidates agree the U.S. military should start leaving Iraq, their approaches differ.

After the president's veto, Bean signed on to a spending plan that delivered emergency funding for U.S. troops in the field.

Without presidential support or a veto-proof majority in Congress, there is no way to pass a war appropriations bill that includes a withdrawal timeline, Bean indicated.

Scheurer maintains Congress can force the president to end the war by withholding the money needed to fight it.

"Not one more day! Not one more death! Not one more dollar!" Scheurer has stated on repeated occasions. "Bring our troops home now, and take care of them when they get here."

Bean said she would not vote against war funding because cutting off those resources, she said, would endanger the military operations that are bound to continue.

( http://www.pioneerlocal.com/schaumburg/news/733939,sc-8thiraqdem-011008-s1.articleprint )





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Randi Scheurer email me			January 10, 2008 Dems take aim at Iraq question Pioneer Press, Matt Kiefer Lindenhurst resident Randi Scheurer said she decided to challenge U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, D-8th, of Barrington, in the Feb. 5 Democratic primary because she wants to bring American troops home from Iraq. Bean voted for war-funding legislation last year that included timelines for phased redeployment of troops out of combat. The withdrawal language Bean supported was ultimately struck down by presidential veto. So, what would Scheurer do differently? The challenger said she wouldn't vote for any war funding bills at all. Her timeline for redeployment would be "the next day." "We stop this war immediately, and we bring our troops home and our money home," said Scheurer, whose youngest son recently spent a year stationed in Iraq with the National Guard. Bean, who supported U.S. military operations in Iraq prior to winning election in 2004, said the time has come for the Iraqi people to take over security responsibilities and govern themselves as originally intended. Illustrating her point, the two-term incumbent said she personally observed a decline in violence between visits she made to Baghdad's Green Zone with congressional delegations in 2005 and again in 2007. "So there's definitely been some improvement relative to violence on the ground and relative to Iraqi troops being able to take ownership of the operations," Bean said. "But that's all military progress. Political process has yet to be seen. But we don't own the political process; (Iraq) is a sovereign nation. ... Ultimately, that's up to the Iraqi people." While both candidates agree the U.S. military should start leaving Iraq, their approaches differ. After the president's veto, Bean signed on to a spending plan that delivered emergency funding for U.S. troops in the field. Without presidential support or a veto-proof majority in Congress, there is no way to pass a war appropriations bill that includes a withdrawal timeline, Bean indicated. Scheurer maintains Congress can force the president to end the war by withholding the money needed to fight it. "Not one more day! Not one more death! Not one more dollar!" Scheurer has stated on repeated occasions. "Bring our troops home now, and take care of them when they get here." Bean said she would not vote against war funding because cutting off those resources, she said, would endanger the military operations that are bound to continue. ( http://www.pioneerlocal.com/schaumburg/news/733939,sc-8thiraqdem-011008-s1.articleprint )