A half dozen state Democratic lawmakers denounced President Bush’s veto of an Iraq spending bill at a news conference May 2.
Rep. Ed Ableser, D-17, said Bush declared “mission accomplished” four years ago, though the Iraq War has continued to drag on.
“Currently, we’re wondering what mission the president was talking about,” Ableser told the media and more than a dozen supporters on the House lawn.
The event was sponsored by the Arizona Advocacy Network, a non profit that promotes social justice in connection with other groups.
Bush vetoed the $124 billion supplemental funding bill for the Iraq War because it contained non-binding dates for withdrawing troops.
Rep. Steve Farley, D-28, told the gathering, “We must override this veto, and the president must find an exit strategy.”
Afterward, Farley was told that, according to news reports, the U.S. House earlier had already tried and failed to override the veto.
Farley suggested the next step might be to work out a compromise, though — he added — Bush has not been willing to talk with congressional leaders.
“If he’s willing to talk, we should talk about it, because we’ve got to get out of there,” Farley said of Iraq.
He and Ableser were joined at the news conference by Reps. Kyrsten Sinema, David Lujan, both D-15; David Schapira, D-17; and Sen. Rebecca Rios, D-23.