Democratic state legislators cite costs in urging end to Iraq war

[MaineDem]

AUGUSTA, Maine — A group of Democratic Maine lawmakers on Thursday sketched out a plan to press for an end to U.S. involvement in the hostilities in Iraq by highlighting the domestic costs of the war.

Saying he was speaking on behalf of two dozen other state House and Senate members, outgoing Democratic Senate leader Michael Brennan of Portland said the group was not wedded to a specific withdrawal strategy but supported ending the war "as quickly as we possibly can and as safely as we possibly can."

Brennan said state lawmakers were driven to speak out by their understanding of the "direct impact" of the war back home _ "the impact that the war has had on domestic spending."

He pegged the overall cost of the war at nearly $300 billion and the share borne by Maine taxpayers at $850 million. A statement distributed to reporters cited estimates by the National Priorities Project and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8II31OG1-179.shtml