Today, for the first time, the U.S. House of Representatives voted by 149 votes to 141 against a supplemental war funding bill for the hostile U.S. military occupation of Iraq.  The House also voted to begin the withdrawal of occupation forces within 30 days, to complete the withdrawal by the end of 2009, and to require U.S. covert agents to comply with U.S. and international laws that outlaw and criminalize torture.

For the first time, 5 Democratic members from South Florida voted with the majority on each of these measures.  That's Hastings, Wexler, Wasserman-Schultz, Meek and Klein.  Many Democrats opposed the war funding bill to curry favor with their constituents on the assumption that the Senate will reinstate the funding for the occupation.  Many of these same Democrats will then vote for the Senate version, reducing today's vote to a symbolic gesture.  Please let your member know that you expect him or her to stand by today's vote.

The Senate is expected to take up the war supplemental next week.  Please call Senator Nelson (202-224-5274) and Senator Martinez (202-224-3041) and insist that they vote for the "Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act" exactly as it was passed by the House without an amendment for war funding and without removing the Iraq withdrawal and anti-torture provisions.