Hawaii Senate passes resolution to Bring our National Guard Home!

[mahina]

Aloha, the Hawaii Senate has voted to approve SR128 SD1. The full text of the reso is below. This reso will now go to the state House. I will provide a link to news media when it breaks. Here's the link to the state legeslature page: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sr128_sd1_.htm
If any of you folks can post it at Kos that would be awesome. (I've been reading it for years, never had anything important to say till today and there is a week wait to post the first time.) This info needs to be spread far and wide, as we don't have much independant local political news coverage here.
Is this a first?
As a Hawaii National Guard family, we are so grateful to our very wonderful Democratic Senators!
Wish us luck in the House, mahalo
Mahina Hoku and Hawaii Code Pink ohana


THE SENATE S.R. NO. 128
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE RESOLUTION


CALLING UPON THE GOVERNOR OF HAWAII TO TAKE STEPS TO WITHDRAW THE HAWAII ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS FROM IRAQ.



WHEREAS, the Legislature strongly supports the men and women who serve in Iraq and recognizes the sacrifices that each of them are making for our country; and

WHEREAS, in October 2002, the United States Congress adopted a joint resolution to authorize the use of United States armed forces in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, the joint resolution was based upon false information regarding Saddam Hussein's involvement in the attacks of September 11, 2001, the immediacy of the threat Iraq posed to the United States, and the existence of weapons of mass destruction; and

WHEREAS, the majority of Americans are troubled by the direction the war in Iraq has taken since its inception and support the withdrawal of United States troops; and

WHEREAS, despite public sentiment against having troops remain in Iraq, there has been no exit strategy proposed by the Bush administration; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has met the call of duty by having the highest ratio of Hawaii Army National Guard members on active duty of any other state in the Union; and

WHEREAS, the costs of deployment to our Hawaii `ohana have been high, as firefighters, police officers, nurses, mechanics, teachers, doctors, dentists, pilots, lawyers, legislators, and working people from all segments of our society have had to leave their jobs and their lives behind; and

WHEREAS, deployment of Hawaii Air and National Guard members has had other negative impacts, not only on the soldiers themselves, but also their families; and

WHEREAS, these negative impacts include the loss of life, the destruction and disruption of families, mental distress, financial hardships, career interruptions, and the disruptions of daily civic life; and

WHEREAS, these costs and negative impacts would be better understood and more acceptable if there was a immediate and credible threat to our nation, but such costs and negative impacts cannot be tolerated where no such threat exists; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is one of the most isolated archipelagos in the world, far removed from interstate emergency relief; and

WHEREAS, there is strong reason to believe that the war in Iraq and the federalization and deployment of Air and Army National Guard members may render the remaining Guard force in Hawaii unable to carry out its responsibilities to our State in the event of a hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption, other natural disaster, a terrorist attack, or even a health crisis, such as an outbreak of the avian flu; and

WHEREAS, the Pentagon has announced that in 2006, the Air and National Guard's role in the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan are to be reduced from over fifty percent to twenty percent; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Governor is called upon to take steps to secure the withdrawal of all Hawaii Air and Army National Guard members from Iraq; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the President of the United States of America, each member of the

Hawaii Congressional delegation, the President of the Hawaii State Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

[saigon68]

1. A crack in the armor appears

[Theres-a]

2. WHEREAS, You rock!

Aloha!

[The Sushi Bandit]

3. This makes me PROUD to be Hawaiian!!!!

only problem is the gov is a repuke and wont go thru with it

[mahina]

6. Mahalo Sushi, can you spread the word on Maui?

It's going to the House next. A few calls thanking our Democratic Senators for standing up for us would be very much appreciated.
Let's just see what happens. So far the votes are straight party line.
A hui hou!

[rodeodance]

4. good, they want the Gov. to get buzy and recall the troops. YEAH

[mahina]

5. Our Governess is a republican, very tight with Bush.

Most of our Hawaii National Guard is back home except for four guys as I understand it, but we would like them to stay home this time. Many have been over there twice, some three times already. We don't want them redeployed.
Look how long it took to help New Orleans, how long would it take them to come help us do you think?
We need our guys to stay home.

[yorkiemommie1]

7. YAY !!!

aloha ... IMUA !!

( and hope you all stay dry over there ! )


... ex-local lady here.

[Dharma_Bum]

8. Absolutely Epic!

I didn't even think there was a snowball's chance...

Whoever developed: "Hawaii is one of the most isolated archipelagos in the world, far removed from interstate emergency relief..." is amazing! Kudos!

...Let's see how far this goes.

Fingers crossed pukeface falls in a pot-hole.:headbang:

--The Dharma

[mahina]

9. Mahalo DB,

Others in our group worked on this really tirelessly. I was gone most of the time. But when it goes to the floor of the house I will post it in the Hawaii forum and hope for a DU er or two. You have been great about posting NION stuff here.
It was a lesson in a lot of ways, some I wish the current "voter owned hawaii' crew would consider.
It really has been epic. I am completely in awe of our Democratic Senators and house members. This is a very controversial reso and they need supporting calls telling them Thank You, especially senators Sakamoto and Hoosier.
Sam Slom et al are such jerks...
Mahalo again BD, a hui hou

[Hekate]

10. I am bursting with vicarious pride

:woohoo:
:bounce:
:party:
:toast:
:grouphug:

and a big Alooooooha to all my aikanes

Hekate

[TankLV]

11. WONDERFUL NEWS - congratulations for all your hard work.

From this former Kama'aina now living in Las Vegas.

[mahina]

12. MY MISTAKE! Not going to the House,

just so you know...thanks Ann!