Illinois politicians and peace issues:



 

Ben recently posted a set of voter recommendations for the November election.  Here is some additional information that I was able to gather.

Recent peace issues have involved:
 

  1. Rep. Kucinich's letter (Summer 2002) to President Bush urging him to consult with Congress prior to military action against Iraq.
  2. House congressional Resolution 473 which asks the U.S. to work through the United Nations rather than unilaterally on Iraq ("Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the importance of the United States working through the United Nations to assure Iraq's compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions and advance peace and security in the Persian Gulf region."  The full text is at http://thomas.loc.gov. Search under "H. Con. Res. 473.")
  3. The Congressional resolution (one in the House and one in the Senate) authorizing President Bush to initiate military action against Iraq, including a possible invasion.


Danny Davis:
 -signed Kucinich's letter
 -co-sponsored H. Con. Res. 473
 -voted no on the authorization for Bush to use military force against Iraq

Luis Gutierrez:
 -signed Kucinich's letter (according to his office)
 -supported H. Con Res. 473 (according to his office)
 -voted no on the authorization for Bush to use military force against Iraq.

William Lipinski:
 -unknown whether he signed Kucinich's letter
 -voted no on the authorization for Bush to use military force against Iraq.

Rod Blagojevich:
 -voted YES on the authorization for Bush to use military force against Iraq.

Dick Durbin:
 -co-sponsored an amendment to further restrict Senate authorization for President Bush to use force only in the circumstance of an ``imminent threat.''
 -voted no on the authorization for Bush to use military force against Iraq.

Peter Fitzgerald:
 -voted YES on the authorization for Bush to use military force against Iraq.
 -cast lone vote in Senate against the $15 billion airline bailout bill in Fall 2001.
 
 

  1. Illinois Peace Action has its own ratings of politicians based on the legislation it considers important for peace issues.  
  2. Tom Broderick has also offered some opinions regarding other issues such as the death penalty.  
  3. The Chicago Council of Lawyers issues recommendations regarding which judges it thinks should be retained and which shouldn't.  Since judges are largely responsible for administering decisions regarding detention, search warrants, civil liberties, the issue is immediately relevant to peace and foreign policy matters.