Sacramento -- California State legislators join to oppose the Bush Administration’s “rush to war” in Iraq, and to encourage the President to allow for more time for the U.N. Inspectors to be able to complete their inspections in Iraq. The group will also announce plans to send a jointly signed letter to President Bush and the members of the California Congressional Delegation.

“In the end, our National Security lies in the well-being of our people. In addition to human suffering and destabilizing the international community, the costs of this war will drain our economy, take education from our children and food from our hungry,” said Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley).

“We are gathering together to call attention to the costs of a war with Iraq, both in terms of lives lost by American servicemen and service women, and by Iraqi soldiers and non-combatants alike,” said Senator Don Perata. “California, like 48 other states, is facing a budget crisis unlike any previous time. And yet President Bush wants to expend a minimum of $200 billion for the first strikes, and up to $1 trillion to ‘rebuild’ Iraq after our military forces destroy it. That makes no sense to me,” added Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg.

Democratic Study Group Caucus Chair, Assemblmember Mervyn Dymally, said that his caucus members “…are opposed to the premature war against Iraq. It is our belief that President Bush should permit the U.N. Inspectors to continue with their assignment before rushing to war.”

Assemblywoman Loni Hancock added, “Many members of the California Senate and California Assembly will be present to present their views. All are concerned for the safety and welfare of American service people who will be put in harms way.”

“We need to ensure that the men and women who serve in our military have the utmost support and resources from all of our allies before sending them into harms way,” said Assemblymember Judy Chu.

Those assembled worry about the destabilizing effect this preemptive strike could have on the entire region. “The entire Middle East, including India and Pakistan, Israel and Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia all could be thrown into wider and more dangerous conflicts because of the way the United States is choosing to hurry into this attack,” said Assemblymember Sally Lieber.

The press conference will reflect a diverse group of Legislators geographically, in age, and background. They share a common belief that the United States is entering into a quagmire, largely unsupported except by Great Britain. Many of the Legislators remember the Vietnam War, and the demonstrations that helped to finally bring the war to an end. Assemblymember John Longville recalls, “Thirty-five years ago this month [March, 1968] the voters of New Hampshire turned around the debate on the Vietnam War when they chose twenty anti-war activists supporting Eugene McCarthy for President to be the bulk of that state’s twenty-four delegates at the Democratic National Convention. This time around, perhaps we can send our message before the invasion.”

DATE: Tuesday, March 4, 2003

TIME: 11 A.M.

LOCATION: All Wars Memorial (Corner of 13th and N)

State Capitol -- Capitol Park

(In case of rain, the press conference will be in the Assembly Speaker’s Press Room, Room 317 in the Capitol)

SENATORS SIGNING THE LETTER INCLUDE: President Pro Tempore John Burton, Richard Alarcon, Dede Alpert, Debra Bowen, Gil Cedillo, Wesley Chesbro, Martha Escutia, Liz Figueroa, Sheila Kuehl, Mike Machado, Kevin Murray, Deborah Ortiz, Don Perata, Gloria Romero, Jack Scott, Byron Sher, Nell Soto, Jackie Speiers, Tom Torlakson, John Vasconcellos, and Edward Vincent.

ASSEMBLYMEMBERS SIGNING THE LETTER INCLUDE: Speaker Herb Wesson, Mervyn Dymally, Jackie Goldberg, Loni Hancock, Patty Berg, Ronald Calderon, Wilma Chan, Judy Chu, Ellen Corbett, Manny Diaz, Marco Firebaugh, Dario Frommer, Jerome Horton, Hannah-Beth Jackson, Christine Kehoe, Paul Koretz, John Laird, Mark Leno, Lloyd Levine, Sally Lieber, Carol Liu, John Longville, Alan Lowenthal, Cindy Montanez, Gene Mullin, Fabian Nunez, Jenny Oropeza, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Simon Salinas, Patricia Wiggins, Leland Yee.