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the Vermont State House, Montpelier, Vermont

Vermont House passes call for "orderly withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq to commence immediately"

The Vermont House of Representatives, meeting today in Montpelier just before the snow flew, voted 95 to 52 to pass H.R. 11, a "House resolution calling for the orderly withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq to commence immediately."

Michael Fisher, of Lincoln, Addison County, was the principal sponsor of the bill. You can read this resolution as it was passed by the Vermont House of Representatives, in its entirety, by clicking here. You can read the proceedings surrounding the consideration and passage of this measure by clicking here.

Vermont's House of Representatives passed this bill, which calls for the immediate commencement of U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, while the U.S. House of Representatives was beginning three days of speeches about its own resolution opposing President Bush's decision to deploy an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq. As currently constituted, the resolution pending in the federal legislature in Washington, D.C., does not call for "the orderly withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq to commence immediately" as was passed today by one house of the state legislature of the Green Mountain State.

After the vote, Daryl Pillsbury, a member of the Vermont State House of Representatives who voted for H.R 11, spoke with the Impeachment Channel, saying,

"In my state of Vermont, the people have spoken loud and clear about their stance on this President. If Congress does not want to act, I feel it is my duty to speak for the people of Vermont. We can't wait around all day for Congress to do something. We hope this will light a fire under them to get them moving. If enough state legislatures do this they will, in my opinion, react to it. If Congress refuses to listen to the will of the people, it's my job to get them to listen."

You can listen to Vermont Representative Pillsbury's complete recorded conversation with the Impeachment Channel this afternoon by clicking on the "PLAY" button on the top-most program on the Impeachment Channel, below.

During that interview, Representative Pillsbury indicated that the passage of this anti-war resolution will add momentum to Thursday (February 15, 2007)'s introduction of another resolution, one calling for the impeachment of the chief architect of the Iraq War, George W. Bush, on grounds that he lied to Congress and the American people in order to justify the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

While not optimistic that that resolution will fare as well as today's call for withdrawal of U.S. troops did, Representative Pillsbury did indicate that its chances of success would be enhanced if supporters of impeachment communicate their views to legislative leaders in Montpelier.

Vermont House Speaker Gaye Symington and Vermont House Judiciary Chair William Lippert

speaking truth to power

Interested parties can send e-mail to the Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives Gaye Symington by clicking here and to House Judiciary Committee (where the impeachment bill will first be considered) Chair Bill Lippert by clicking here.

Other members of the Judiciary Committee of the Vermont House of Representatives (click on their names to send them e-mail) are:

Representative Grad of Moretown, Vice-Chair
Representative Flory of Pittsford
Representative Allard of St. Albans Town
Representative Clarkson of Woodstock
Representative Donaghy of Poultney
Representative Gervais of Enosburg
Representative Jewett of Ripton
Representative Komline of Dorset
Representative Marek of Newfane
Representative Pellett of Chester, Clerk

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