(Sacramento) - Today, Assemblymember Sandre Swanson (D – Oakland) offered his vigorous support for SB 924 by Senator Don Perata, which will allow California voters the opportunity to communicate directly to President Bush their unequivocal desire to end the occupation in Iraq and that the United States re-engage the global community to create a more peaceful Middle East and world.  The measure passed 43-32.

Assemblymember Swanson stated: “Of course we are all here in support of the men and women of the armed forces for carrying out their duty to protect our democracy. I rise specifically to challenge the dangerous policy of preemptive war and to call for a return of strategic, international collaborations, and I believe this measure furthers that goal. The worst foreign policy decision of this era is represented by the Bush doctrine of preemption, and history will define this generation of policy leaders in Congress and the state legislatures on how we cope with this challenge.”

Dozens of members of the Assembly rose to speak in support or opposition of SB 924. Assemblymember Swanson, who served as Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Chief of Staff when the United States was attacked, spoke out in response to references made by his colleagues to the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. Assemblymember Swanson advised Congresswoman Lee to vote against giving President Bush a blank check to go to war with whomever and wherever. Assemblymember Swanson passionately recalled those trying moments immediately following the attacks, especially in light of the fact that he had lost his cousin, Ms. Wanda Green, who was a Senior Flight Attendant on United flight 93.

Mr. Swanson declared: “It is disingenuous to say that this war is being fought to honor the victims of 9/11.  My family, other families, know the truth.  It threatens any democracy to give any president pre-emptive war authority.”