1.1A resolution1.2opposing escalation of United States troops in Iraq.1.3WHEREAS, the President has proposed an escalation in the number of United States 1.4troops deployed in Iraq; and  1.5WHEREAS, United States involvement in Iraq has resulted in the deaths of more than 1.63,000 United States soldiers and the wounding and disabling of more than 22,000 United States 1.7military personnel to date; and  1.8WHEREAS, this proposed escalation will further extend National Guard tours in Iraq; and 1.9the costs to the states of the call-up of National Guard members for deployment in Iraq have 1.10been significant, not only as reckoned in lost lives, combat injuries, and psychic trauma, but 1.11also in disruption of family life, interruption of careers, damage to the fabric of civic life in our 1.12communities, and financial hardship for individuals, families, and businesses; and 1.13WHEREAS, American troops have valiantly upheld their duty in Iraq under dire 1.14circumstances; and  1.15WHEREAS, more than $357 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military 1.16operations and reconstruction in Iraq to date, money that could fund desperately needed education, 1.17health care, housing, nutrition, and other social services in our communities in the United States 1.18or humanitarian assistance abroad; and  1.19WHEREAS, previous budgets that have prioritized Iraq have led to cuts in critical block 1.20grants for states and have increased the federal debt, which, compounded by interest payments, 1.21will likely lead to even larger cuts in funding for critical needs in the states; and  2.1WHEREAS, polls show that the vast majority of Americans do not support increasing 2.2the number of troops in Iraq; and  2.3WHEREAS, most military experts oppose escalation in Iraq, and press reports indicate that 2.4even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have opposed such a strategy; and  2.5WHEREAS, legal experts on all sides have determined that Congress has not only broad 2.6authority but a long tradition of limiting escalation or forcing redeployment of troops through the 2.7constitutionally designated power of the purse; NOW, THEREFORE,  2.8BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota, on behalf of its citizens, 2.9urges that in a period when the Iraq Study Group, leading military and diplomatic officials, 2.10and allies around the world are calling for a reduction in troops and withdrawal of the United 2.11States from Iraq, the United States government should not escalate its involvement in Iraq or 2.12increase troop levels; and2.13BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, at a minimum, the President should obtain explicit 2.14approval from Congress if he wants to send more American troops to Iraq.2.15BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress should pass legislation prohibiting 2.16the President from spending taxpayer dollars on an escalation in Iraq unless he first seeks 2.17Congressional approval.2.18BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the  State of Minnesota is 2.19directed to prepare copies of this  memorial and transmit them to the President of  the United 2.20States, the President and the Secretary of the  United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk 2.21of the United  States House of Representatives, the chair of the Senate  Committee on Armed 2.22Services, the chair of the House Committee  on Armed Services, and Minnesota's Senators and  2.23Representatives in Congress.