SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! DEFUND THE WAR!

A NOTE FROM YOUR NATIONAL
PEACE & JUSTICE CAUCUS CHAIR

"Talking Points" by Military Families Speak Out.
Please listen to the Families of Our Dedicated Military Service Personnel.

Dear Peace & Justice Caucus Friends:

Below are talking points from Military Families Speak Out--Why defunding the war supports our troops. Contact your Congressman. Important debates are going on now and the issue of funding is coming up soon.

Submitted Respectfully,

Rhonda Hanson

Rhonda Hanson,
NEA Peace & Justice Caucus Chair

TALKING POINTS FOR YOU

• In the November elections, the American people made clear their overwhelming opposition to the war in Iraq.
• Congress can hold hearings, debate and even pass legislation on the war, but none of these will bring the war to an end. Congress’ real power lies in their control over funding for the war and their ability to cut off funds except for those that are needed to bring our troops home quickly and safely.
• Unless Congress acts, the war will continue. The Bush administration has made it clear that they have no intention of ending the war and bringing our troops home.
• Every day that the war continues, on average, three U.S. troops and countless Iraqi children, women and men die.
• December 31, 2006 marked the death of the 3,000th U.S. troop in Iraq. If the U.S. military occupation continues through 2007, we expect 800-1,000 more U.S. troops and 180,000 more Iraqis will die.
• In February or March, 2007, an appropriations bill will come before Congress seeking approximately $130 billion dollars to continue the war in Iraq.
• Senators and Members of Congress cannot simultaneously oppose and fund this war.
• Congress must vote against any further appropriation that will continue the war in Iraq.

DE-FUNDING THE WAR DOES NOT MEAN DE-FUNDING THE TROOPS

• In September, 2006 Congress approved $70 billion for the war in Iraq, money that is currently available to the military. This is more than enough to ensure the troops have what they need (armor, protective equipment, weapons, ammunition, food, water, supplies, vehicles, etc) to come home quickly and safely. If more funds are needed, monies in the Department of Defense budget could be re-programmed for that purpose. In short, the resources are available; what is needed now is your political will to end the war.
• It is the Bush administration that has not supported our troops. They were sent off to fight a war based on lies without proper armor, equipment and supplies. The Bush administration has not allocated sufficient monies to provide the medical and psychological support for our troops when they return home or help them transition back to civilian life - including funding for education and job programs.
• The most supportive thing that Congress can do for our troops is to end the funding for this disastrous, unjust and unjustifiable war.

DE-FUNDING THE WAR AND PULLING U.S. TROOPS OUT IS
ESSENTIAL TO BRINGING PEACE TO IRAQ

• There is chaos and civil war in Iraq now. The U.S. military occupation of Iraq is not the solution, it is the problem. It is a major source of the violence in Iraq.
• The Iraqi people in overwhelming numbers have expressed a desire for the U.S. military occupation to end.
• Ending the U.S. military occupation is a pre-requisite to any real attempts for peace in Iraq.
• The U.S. has a responsibility to contribute financially to the re-building of Iraq. But that responsibility can not be carried out by a U.S. military occupying force or by contractors such as Halliburton.

HONOR THE FALLEN, END THE WAR NOW!

• The continued war in Iraq will mean more deaths, more wounded, and more troops suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• The only thing worse than having so many die in a war that should never have happened is to have this war claim even more lives.
• Those who have already fallen in this war will best be honored by a nation and a Congress with the courage to end the war.

Satire: Bush Cuts Off Diplomatic Relations with Congress (Click on Headline Below for Full Article)

Bush Cuts Off Diplomatic Relations With Congress

WASHINGTON, DC—Calling Congress an "enemy of the state," the Bush Administration made it clear that it is not only severing ties to the lawmakers, but also to anyone who offers them aid, comfort, or votes.

Senate Won't Vote on Dissent of Troop Buildup

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Democrats failed to garner the 60 votes they needed to consider a nonbinding resolution opposing President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.

The vote was 56-34, with seven Republicans crossing the aisle to vote with senators who oppose the troop buildup.

The measure was identical to a nonbinding resolution the House passed Friday denouncing the plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.

"We are policing a civil war in Iraq," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said before the vote. "American troops should not be in the middle of that war."

He added, "The president's escalation is misguided, to put it kindly." (Watch Schumer say Democrats are calling the GOP's "bluff" )

The Saturday vote was a procedural decision on whether the Senate should move on to a final vote on a resolution that expresses opposition to Bush's plan.

Republicans pushed for amendments that would address funding of the war, which they said would make the vote meaningful.

"Democrats are afraid to cut off funding," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, said.

"If you believe this is a lost cause, and victory can't be achieved, that our people are in the middle of a mess, a civil war and not one person should get injured or killed because we've made huge mistakes ... then cut off funding, have a vote on something that matters," he added.
Graham called the resolution "political theater."

Senate Republicans succeeded earlier this month in blocking a vote on a similar resolution.

Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada urged Senate Republicans to drop their procedural moves.

In the House, 17 Republicans joined Democrats on Friday in passing the two-sentence resolution. It expresses support for U.S. troops in Iraq but states that Congress "disapproves" of Bush's troop increase. (Full story)

On February 5, all but two GOP senators voted to block debate on the similar resolution. Saturday's vote saw five more GOP senators join the Democrats. (Full story)

They were Sens. John Warner of Virginia, Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Susan Collins of Maine, Chuck Hagel of Minnesota, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

"We support the president on the diplomatic aspects of his plan. We support the president on the economic aspects of his plan," Warner said.

"We only disagree with one portion of it: Mr. President, do you need 21,500 additional men and women of the armed forces in this conflict?" Warner said.

Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, backed the chance to vote on the resolution.

"If we believe plunging into Baghdad neighborhoods with more American troops will not increase chances of success, we are duty-bound to say so," Levin said.

GOP INSISTED ON "MEASURE OF FAIRNESS"

Republican leaders insisted that members get a chance to vote on two GOP alternatives, and that the process be conducted under rules that called for 60 votes to pass.
Republican critics have claimed that passing the resolution could lead to a cutoff in funding for the troops.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said before the vote that Republicans would insist on "a measure of fairness," allowing them to offer alternative resolutions -- including one stating the Senate won't cut off money for troops in the field.

"If we have only one alternative, it will involve a vote on funding the troops," McConnell said. (View Iraq proposals introduced in the Senate)

Published polls indicate a solid majority of the U.S. public opposes the Bush plan, and Democrats said the November election victories that put them in control of Congress show Americans want to wind down the nearly four-year-old war.

BUSH CHALLENGES CONGRESS NOT TO CUT FUNDING

Bush noted Thursday that the Senate recently confirmed the promotion of Gen. David Petraeus, the new commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, even as members criticized the strategy he was installed to pursue.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Saturday on her way to meet with Middle East leaders. She told troops there that despite the political debate, their efforts are appreciated back home. (Full story)

Though the president said lawmakers "have every right to express their opinion," he demanded they support an upcoming spending bill that would commit nearly $100 billion more to the war effort. (Watch Bush challenge Congress not to cut war funding )

"Our men and women in uniform are counting on their elected leaders to provide them with the support they need to accomplish their mission," Bush said.

US Senate to Hold Unusual Weekend Vote on Iraq Troop 'SURGE'

US congressional debate on Iraq took a rare turn as the Senate's leadership opted to cut into lawmakers' time off to hold a vote Saturday on President George W. Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.

"Democrats are determined to give our troops and the American people the debate they deserve, so the Senate will have another Iraq vote this Saturday," said Senate Harry Reid, leader of the Democratic majority, with legislators due to take a one-week break from Saturday.
The vote will resume debate cut off February 5 on a non-binding resolution on Bush's plan, announced in January, to send 21,500 additional combat troops.

"We will move for a clear up or down vote on the House resolution which simply calls on Congress to support the troops and opposes the escalation," Reid said.

Maine Republican Senator Olympia Snowe, who supports a text disapproving of Bush's new plan for Iraq, voiced concern Wednesday at the idea of heading home for a break.

"We are expecting to adjourn next week for a recess. I thought to myself: Why? Why, so we will get back to Iraq before we know it? ... The troop surge isn't going to wait. The Iraqi war doesn't take a recess. Our men and women aren't taking a recess," Snowe said.

"Why can't we debate now and vote on these issues? Are we saying we are simply not capable of talking?," she asked.

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, referring to Republicans who have said they are eager to debate on Iraq, said: "We're calling their bluff."

House of Representatives lawmakers engaged in heated this week over a 97-word resolution that calls for supporting US soldiers already in Iraq but opposes Bush's plan to dispatch thousands of additional troops to Baghdad and the restive Al-Anbar province. It was expected to be adopted Friday.

House Resolution 63--Opposing Additional Troop Deployment in Iraq

Opposing Additional Troop Deployment In Iraq
Text of non-binding House Resolution on Iraq War Build Up,
introduced 12 February 2007.

Chief sponsor: Rep Ike Skelton (D-MO-4). Co-sponsors: Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee, [TX-18] ; Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson, [TX-30] ; Rep Walter B. Jones, Jr. [NC-3] ; Rep Tom Lantos, Tom [CA-12] ; Rep Bobby L. Rush, [IL-1]

110th CONGRESS
1st Session H. CON.
RES. 63

Disapproving of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 12, 2007 Mr. SKELTON (for himself, Mr. LANTOS, and Mr. JONES of North Carolina) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Disapproving of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq. Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That--

(1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and

(2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.

U.S. House passes symbolic vote against troop surge in Iraq

The U.S. House of Representatives delivered a symbolic rebuke to President George W. Bush's new strategy for Iraq, voting against his decision to send more troops to the conflict.

The non-binding resolution, which states that the House "will continue to support and protect" the troops but "disapproves" of the troop buildup, passed by a vote of 246 to 182. Some Republicans joined the majority of Democrats to pass the measure.

"The stakes in Iraq are too high to recycle proposals that have little prospect for success," said Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who gained power last fall in elections framed by public opposition to the war.

"The passage of this legislation will signal a change in direction in Iraq that will end the fighting and bring our troops home," she said.

Democrats have said they would attempt to use the vote as the opening move in a campaign to pressure Bush to change course and end U.S. military involvement in the Iraq war, during which more than 3,100 U.S. troops have died in nearly four years of fighting.

Bush's decision last month to deploy an additional 21,500 troops to help stop sectarian violence has quickly become a flashpoint for critics of the war in Congress. There are currently about 141,000 American troops in Iraq.

The debate on the resolution began Tuesday, with each of the House's 435 members and five delegates allotted five minutes to speak on the issue.

The debate was in sharp contrast to the one in 2002, which authorized Bush to use force if Saddam Hussein did not comply with UN weapons inspectors. That debate resulted in solid margins of support from Republicans and Democrats.

In the Wake of the Surge

Keith Olberman's Special Comments on the
WAKE OF THE SURGE OF TROOPS IN IRAQ
(If no image is present, please click on blank spot below and wait patiently)

Fair Share Legislation a Reality in Iowa?

A NOTE FROM YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR...

Dear Midwest Peace & Justic Caucus Friends:

In an effort to realize item four within our caucus agenda, I am supplying you with the following information for study. As you may know, Iowa is working to move forward to earn a "hard-fought" victory realized by our colleagues in Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. As we were successful in electing a pro-education House, Senate and Governor, the time seems right for us to move from studying the issue to making it a reality.

Below is the Senate version of the Fair Share bill presently being tossed around the legislature. I don't know what the House version is yet, but I'll work on it. As you will see below, negotiations for Fair Share will be mandotary. Please read and ponder your future actions.

Read below to see what exactly is being discussed.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE BY CLICKING HERE.

Submitted respectfully,

Tom Wolfe

Tom Wolfe,
Midwest Peace & Justice Director

FAIR SHARE LEGISLATION
Senate Study Bill 1120
Bill Text

Far left number is page number, followed by line number:

1 1 Section 1. Section 20.8, subsection 4, Code 2007, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 4. Refuse to join or participate in the activities of
1 4 employee organizations, including the payment of any dues,
1 5 fees or assessments or service fees of any type, except as
1 6 provided in section 20.9.
1 7 Sec. 2. Section 20.9, Code 2007, is amended to read as
1 8 follows:
1 9 20.9 SCOPE OF NEGOTIATIONS.
1 10 1. The public employer and the employee organization shall
1 11 meet at reasonable times, including meetings reasonably in
1 12 advance of the public employer's budget=making process, to
1 13 negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours,
1 14 vacations, insurance, holidays, leaves of absence, shift
1 15 differentials, overtime compensation, supplemental pay,
1 16 seniority, transfer procedures, job classifications, health
1 17 and safety matters, evaluation procedures, procedures for
1 18 staff reduction, in=service training, fair share agreements,
1 19 and other matters mutually agreed upon. Negotiations shall
1 20 also include terms authorizing dues checkoff for members of
1 21 the employee organization, terms for payroll deduction of fair
1 22 share fees of nonmembers of the employee organization, and
1 23 grievance procedures for resolving any questions arising under
1 24 the agreement, which shall be embodied in a written agreement
1 25 and signed by the parties. If an agreement provides for dues
1 26 checkoff, a member's dues may be checked off only upon the
1 27 member's written request and the member may terminate the dues
1 28 checkoff at any time by giving thirty days' written notice.
1 29 Such obligation to negotiate in good faith does not compel
1 30 either party to agree to a proposal or make a concession.
1 31 2. a. Notwithstanding any provision of state law to the
1 32 contrary, a negotiated agreement for fair share fees shall not
1 33 provide for the termination of the employment of a public
1 34 employee for failure to pay membership dues and charges or
1 35 fair share fees of an employee organization, but shall provide
2 1 that, commencing on the effective date of a collective
2 2 bargaining agreement which provides for a fair share fee, the
2 3 public employer shall deduct once each month from the wages or
2 4 salaries of nonmembers of the certified employee organization
2 5 the amount of the fair share fee and transmit the amount
2 6 deducted to the certified employee organization within
2 7 fourteen days of the deduction.
2 8 b. Every negotiated agreement for fair share fees shall
2 9 conform with the requirements of the Constitution of the
2 10 United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and
2 11 shall provide, if required, for the following:
2 12 (1) The certified employee organization may charge
2 13 nonmembers of the employee organization a fair share fee,
2 14 which shall not exceed the amount of dues and charges required
2 15 to be paid by a member in good standing of the employee
2 16 organization.
2 17 (2) The certified employee organization shall furnish
2 18 advance written notice of the amount of the fair share fee to
2 19 the nonmember employees who will be assessed the fee. The
2 20 notice shall inform the nonmember of a procedure by which the
2 21 nonmember may object to and receive a reduction of the pro
2 22 rata share of the fee attributed to purposes unrelated to
2 23 collective bargaining, contract administration, or the pursuit
2 24 of other matters affecting wages, hours, and other conditions
2 25 of employment. The notice also shall inform the nonmember of
2 26 a procedure by which the nonmember is afforded an opportunity
2 27 to challenge the amount of the fee before an impartial
2 28 decision maker. All fees reasonably in dispute during the
2 29 challenge period shall be held by the certified employee
2 30 organization in an interest=bearing escrow account until final
2 31 resolution is made by the impartial decision maker, at which
2 32 time such funds shall be disbursed in accordance with the
2 33 decision maker's award.
2 34 (3) The public employer shall provide the certified
2 35 employee organization with a list of the names and addresses
3 1 of all nonmember employees in the bargaining unit that is
3 2 represented by the employee organization.
3 3 3. Nothing in this section, section 20.8, or in the terms
3 4 of a fair share agreement shall be deemed to require a public
3 5 employee to become a member of an employee organization.
3 6 4. Nothing in this section shall diminish the authority
3 7 and power of the department of administrative services, board
3 8 of regents' merit system, Iowa public broadcasting board's
3 9 merit system, or any civil service commission established by
3 10 constitutional provision, statute, charter or special act to
3 11 recruit employees, prepare, conduct and grade examinations,
3 12 rate candidates in order of their relative scores for
3 13 certification for appointment or promotion or for other
3 14 matters of classification, reclassification or appeal rights
3 15 in the classified service of the public employer served.
3 16 5. All retirement systems shall be excluded from the scope
3 17 of negotiations.
3 18 Sec. 3. Section 731.3, Code 2007, is amended to read as
3 19 follows:
3 20 731.3 CONTRACTS TO EXCLUDE UNLAWFUL.
3 21 It Except as provided in sections 20.8, 20.9, and 731.4A,
3 22 it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association,
3 23 corporation or labor organization to enter into any
3 24 understanding, contract, or agreement, whether written or
3 25 oral, to exclude from employment members of a labor union,
3 26 organization or association, or persons who do not belong to,
3 27 or who refuse to join, a labor union, organization or
3 28 association, or because of resignation or withdrawal
3 29 therefrom.
3 30 Sec. 4. Section 731.4, Code 2007, is amended to read as
3 31 follows:
3 32 731.4 UNION DUES AS PREREQUISITE TO EMPLOYMENT ==
3 33 PROHIBITED.
3 34 It Except as provided in sections 20.8, 20.9, and 731.4A,
3 35 it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, labor
4 1 organization or corporation, or political subdivision, either
4 2 directly or indirectly, or in any manner or by any means as a
4 3 prerequisite to or a condition of employment to require any
4 4 person to pay dues, charges, fees, contributions, fines or
4 5 assessments to any labor union, labor association or labor
4 6 organization.
4 7 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 731.4A FAIR SHARE FEE AGREEMENTS.
4 8 A labor union, labor association, labor organization, or
4 9 employee organization, which is the certified or recognized
4 10 exclusive representative for collective bargaining under
4 11 applicable federal or state law, may enter into an agreement
4 12 with the employer of the employees it is certified or
4 13 recognized to represent in collective bargaining that, as a
4 14 condition of continued employment, requires employees, after
4 15 thirty days of employment, either to become a member of the
4 16 certified or recognized labor union, labor association, labor
4 17 organization, or employee organization, or to pay a fair share
4 18 fee to the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United
4 19 States, the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and federal
4 20 law. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require an
4 21 employee to become a member of a labor union, labor
4 22 association, labor organization, or employee organization.
4 23 Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
4 24 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
4 25 EXPLANATION
4 26 This bill authorizes the negotiating of fair share
4 27 agreements in collective bargaining agreements.
4 28 Code chapter 20, concerning collective bargaining for
4 29 public employment, is amended to authorize fair share
4 30 agreements. Code section 20.9 is amended to provide that the
4 31 scope of negotiations for purposes of a collective bargaining
4 32 agreement includes negotiating fair share agreements and the
4 33 terms for payroll deductions of fair share fees for nonmembers
4 34 of an employee organization. The bill provides that a
4 35 negotiated fair share agreement shall provide that the public
5 1 employer deduct once each month from the wages of nonmembers
5 2 of an applicable employee organization the amount of the fair
5 3 share fee and transmit it to the certified employee
5 4 organization within 14 days of the deduction. The bill
5 5 further requires that the agreement for fair share fees
5 6 provide that the fair share fee shall not exceed the amount of
5 7 dues and charges required of a member of the employee
5 8 organization, that the certified employee organization provide
5 9 advance written notice of the fee and a procedure for
5 10 nonmembers to object to and receive a reduction of the share
5 11 of the fee unrelated to collective bargaining, contract
5 12 administration, and other related matters, that an impartial
5 13 procedure be provided for resolving fair share fee disputes,
5 14 and that the public employer furnish the employee organization
5 15 with a list of the names and addresses of all nonmembers. The
5 16 bill also provides that nothing in a fair share agreement
5 17 shall provide for the termination of employment for failure to
5 18 pay a fair share fee or shall require a public employee to
5 19 become a member of an employee organization.
5 20 Code chapter 731, concerning labor union membership, is
5 21 also amended to authorize fair share agreements. New Code
5 22 section 731.4A provides that a labor union may enter into an
5 23 agreement with an employer that, as a condition of continued
5 24 employment, requires employees whom the union is certified to
5 25 represent to become a member of the labor union or to pay a
5 26 fair share fee to the extent permitted by the United States
5 27 Constitution, the Iowa Constitution, and applicable federal
5 28 law. The new Code section provides that nothing in this Code
5 29 section shall be deemed to require an employee to become a
5 30 member of a labor union.
5 31 The bill takes effect upon enactment.
5 32 LSB 1856XC 82
5 33 ec:rj/je/5.1

Eric Mann Interviews Amiri Baraka Live on his book TALES OF THE OUT AND THE GONE

Monday, February 12th, 2007
4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM CST
Pacifica Stations KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles,
98.7 FM in Santa Barbara
Streaming live on the web at www.kpfk.org

Amiri Baraka, on his latest book, Tales of the Out and the Gone, a series of short stories that are 33 years in the making.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amiri Baraka, known as Leroi Jones in the 1960's, is the last poet laureate of the state of New Jersey. He is the author of numerous books of essays, poems, drama, and music history and criticism and has founded and co-founded a number of organizations, including Yugen magazine, Totem Press, the Black Arts Reportory Theatre, and the Congress of African People.

ABOUT THE HOST: Eric Mann is a veteran of CORE, SDS, and the UAW. He is currently the Director of the Labor/Community Strategy Center in Los Angeles. Eric's latest book, Katrina's Legacy: White Racism and Black Reconstruction in the Gulf Coast is available for purchase Eric's latest book, Katrina's Legacy: White Racism and Black Reconstruction in the Gulf Coast is available for purchase by clicking on this link.

Click here to listen to the NPR Interview with Amiri Baraka

Click here to view/read the NPR Transcript of the Interview with Amiri Baraka

An Historic March for Peace on the Pentagon

A MARCH ON THE PENTAGON
MARCH 17, 2007

Many states have started organizing this effort. Check to see what your state has done so far at the bottom of this post.

“Whatever happened to the nation that never tortured? The nation that wasn’t supposed to start wars of choice? The nation that respected human rights and lives? A nation that from the beginning was against tyranny?

Where have we gone? How did we let these people take us there? How did we let them fool us?

We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, ‘Stop it, now!’”

-- Molly Ivins

In 2007 we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the historic 1967 march on the Pentagon4th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war

On March 17, 2007, the 4th anniversary of the start of the criminal invasion of Iraq, tens of thousands of people from around the country will descend on the Pentagon in a mass demonstration to demand: U.S. Out of Iraq Now!

The message of the 1967 march--40 years ago--was "From Protest to Resistance," and marked a turning point in the development of a countrywide mass movement.

In the coming days and weeks, thousands of organizations and individuals will begin mobilizing for the upcoming March on the Pentagon. Organizing committees and transportation centers are being established to bring people to the March on the Pentagon.

The March 17 demonstration will assemble at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Constitution Gardens) at 12 noon in Washington, D.C.and march to the Pentagon.

Illinois

Chicago, IL A.N.S.W.E.R Chicago CONTACT: ANSWER@ChicagoANSWER.net, 773-463-0311TRANSPORTATION DETAILS: Buses leave Friday evening and return after the demonstration. Contact for more information and to get involved.TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZED TO: Washington DC

Indiana

Ft. Wayne, IN CONTACT: Bruce Hall at ftwynebus@answercoalition.org or 260-745-7354TRANSPORTATION DETAILS: Contact for more information.TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZED TO: Washington DC

Iowa (see more details at the bottom of this post)

Des Moines, IA Methodist Federation for Social Action - Iowa Chapter CONTACT: Chet Guinn at desmoinesbus@answercoalition.org, 515-282-8054 or 515-556-8054 TRANSPORTATION DETAILS: Contact for more information.TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZED TO: Washington DC

Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN CONTACT: Anh Tham at minneapolisbus@answercoalition.org or 612-379-3899TRANSPORTATION DETAILS: Contact for more information.TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZED TO: Washington DC

Missouri

No information available.

North Dakota

No information available.

South Dakota

No information availabe.

Wisconsin

No information available.

Iowa Activists have already started organizing. Help your state be part of this historic march.

For questions about the March 17 March on the Pentagon, contact the National Office of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition by email at info@internationalanswer.org

or by phone at 202-544-3389 x14. Please contact Transportation Centers only about transportation from the city nearest you.

More Details for Iowans

If you're an Iowan, see below for info about a DM bus to the Pentagon next month. They will arrange to pick up passengers along I-80 from DM to Davenport-- so of course that includes Iowa City, Grinnell, etc.

Get on the bus!* Seats reserved on a first come, first serve basis

Friday, 3/16, 11 am, leave Des Moines (free parking)

Saturday, 3/17, noon, walk from the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial to demonstration at the Pentagon

Sunday, noon, arrive in Des Moines

Cost: $135. Payment due by February 21.
Make checks to MFSA** with “Bus Trip” in the memo line.
Mail to: Eloise Cranke, 2222 E. 41st, Des Moines, 50317

For more information or to register for the trip: contact Chet Guinn
515/282-8054, cell 515-556-8054, clguinn@mchsi.com

*A 57 passenger deluxe motor coach from Windstar Lines equipped with DVD player, PA system, restroom, reclining seats, armrests, footrests, individual light and air controls and air conditioning.

**Methodist Federation for Social Action. Persons of all faiths and persuasions welcome.