DENVER-
The national debate over President Bush’s decision to send more troops to Iraq may soon spill into the Colorado Legislature, with Democrats and Republicans offering dueling resolutions.
Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, says he’s preparing a resolution that says sending more troops isn’t in the nation’s interest and that Bush should at least ask Congress before doing so.
“This is a disapproval of this president’s go-it-alone strategy in escalating this war in Iraq,” Tupa said Wednesday.
Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, said he is preparing an alternate resolution with a statement of support for the troops.
Although Tupa’s proposal specifically offers support to the troops and their families, Kopp said it will still be demoralizing because it becomes a “harangue” against Bush and the mission in Iraq.
Kopp called Tupa’s resolution “political opportunism” because it criticizes an unpopular president.
“I think this is more about Bush than succeeding in Iraq, and Americans want us to succeed in Iraq,” he said.
Tupa said he is fine-tuning his resolution to reflect bipartisan views, pointing out the draft includes wording supported in Washington by Republican Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.
Tupa said he hasn’t decided whether to limit his resolution to the Senate or make it a joint resolution with the House.
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, would not say whether he would want a House debate on the topic.
“I’m focused on moving Colorado forward on education, health care and renewable energy,” he said.
Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald said she knows the debate could be divisive and distract lawmakers from their regular business, so she doesn’t want it to be dragged out.
But she said states could be hurt by the president’s policy because National Guard troops are in Iraq, instead of at home, and because the war has diverted money that would normally go to the states.
“It’s sucking all the dollars right out of D.C. In that respect, the states should weigh in,” she said.
Colorado is one of 25 states where state lawmakers have either introduced resolutions on the war or sent letters to their congressional delegations opposing the additional troops, according to the New York-based Progressive States Network.
Tupa participated in a conference call organized by the group Tuesday with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and other lawmakers.
On Thursday, another group, the Colorado Progressive Coalition, plans to announce a state campaign to oppose the troop increase.
Coalition co-director Bill Vandenburg said Colorado Springs chapter of the NAACP and labor and religious groups support the push, along with State Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, whose son may be redeployed to Iraq this spring.
