While Senate Anti-war Resolution Flops, 20 States Push Their Own

While the Senate debates Iraq resolutions this week, anti-war activists are pushing hard to get more than 20 states to pass resolutions against President Bush's proposed escalation in Iraq. More than 20 state legislatures - including California, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia - have introduced such resolutions in recent weeks.

This week, MoveOn and Ned Lamont plan to send out hundreds of thousands of emails asking people to contact their state legislators in support of the anti-Iraq escalation resolutions. "States have the power and authority to speak out on issues that will impact them and their citizens," says Joel Barking, executive director of the Progressive States Network, which is the lead national group lobbying for state resolutions.

"An escalation in Iraq would cripple our already over-extended guard units, threatening readiness at home." The campaign is part of a larger anti-escalation campaign involving liberal groups including the SEIU, Center for America's Future, and MoveOn.

By Danielle Knight