Calif. Anti-war Members Call In The Troops

Congressional liberals this week shored up their opposition to more spending for continuing the war in Iraq. Eighty-nine members of the House wrote President Bush on Tuesday, vowing to back new Iraq spending only if it provided “for the protection and safe redeployment of our troops out of Iraq before you leave office.”

Led by anti-war Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Maxine Waters and Lynn Woolsey, all Californians, the group has been gaining in numbers in recent months. They sent a similar letter signed by 70 lawmakers to Bush in July. Since then, Democratic committee chairmen Henry A. Waxman of California and Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, and others have joined them.

Still only one Republican has signed on to the effort, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.