US Lawmakers Get No Respite at Home on Iraq Debate

[babylonsister]

US Lawmakers Get No Respite at Home on Iraq Debate
by Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON - Anti-war groups knew U.S. Rep. Timothy Murphy was going home to Pittsburgh for this month’s congressional recess, so they baked him a cake.

“Rep. Murphy Welcome Home Bring Them Home,” was the Iraq troop withdrawal message written in green icing that greeted the conservative Republican at his district office on August 8. 0820 07

For the 535 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, the August break traditionally is a time for family vacations, foreign travel, campaign fund-raising and meeting with voters.

For Democrats and lobbying groups working to end a war now in its fifth year, August has been a chance to challenge supporters of President George W. Bush’s war policy on their home turf and in the run-up to Congress’ war funding debate next month.

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http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/20/3299/