Marcy KAPTUR supports HAMAS?
Who were the 37 Members of Congress that voted Against the
Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act ?
By Jerome S. Kaufman
(Information and quotes from various sources) May 23, 2006,
by an overwhelming vote of 361-37, the House of
Representatives passed the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act,
H.R. 4681. The bill ends direct aid and contact with the
Hamas-run Palestinian Authority until Hamas renounces
violence, recognizes Israel's right to exist, and agrees to
abide by all previous agreements.
"The bill preserves necessary humanitarian aid for the
Palestinian people, while keeping American taxpayer dollars
out of the hands of a government run by terrorists. Hamas is
a terrorist organization, whose involvement in the
governmental process has not altered its stated goal of
destroying Israel."
Instead of using these last few months to work toward better
relations with the Israel, Hamas continues to reject
Israel's right to exist and to endorse continued violence
against the Israeli people. Hamas' newly appointed Foreign
Minister stated in a recent interview that 'there is no
place for the state of Israel on this land.'
A Hamas spokesperson endorsed a recent suicide bombing that
killed nine Israelis, stating that terrorists have "every
right" to carry out suicide bombings against the Israeli
people. This legislation sets out a clear path for the Hamas
government ? End your support for terrorism and recognize
Israel's right to exist and you will be recognized as a
legitimate member of the international community. But until
those conditions are met, the United States will not allow
American taxpayer dollars to be used to support or
legitimize a terrorist-led Palestinian Authority.
Commended was the extraordinary work of Rep. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) who initiated
the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. The bill is the
farthest U.S. lawmakers have ever gone towards cutting off
the Palestinian leadership from U.S. aid and restricting
assistance through non-governmental organizations.
To voters curious as to Party affiliation of those that
voted against the bill, the following information may be of
interest:
Of the 37 that voted against the bill 31 were Democrats and
only 6 Republicans.
The 37 are listed below:
Arizona: Kolbe (R), Grijalva (D)
California: Becerra (D), Capps(D), Eshoo(D), Farr (D), Lee
(D), G. Miller (R), Stark (D)
Georgia: Marshall (D), McKinney (D)
Illinois: LaHood (R)
Hawaii: Abercrombie (D)
Massachusetts: Capuano (D), McGovern (D)
Maryland: Gilchrest (R)
Michigan: Conyers (D), Dingell (D), Kilpatrick (D)
Minnesota: McCollum (D)
New York: Hinchey (D), Velasquez (D)
North Carolina: Jones (R), Price (D), Watt (D)
Ohio: Kaptur (D), Kucinich (D)
Oregon: Blumenauer (D), DeFazio (D)
Texas: Doggett (D), Paul (R), Thornberry (R)
Washington: McDermott (D)
West Virginia: Rahall (D)
Wisconsin: Moore (D), Obey (D)
Virginia: Moran (D)
Some names will immediately stick out for their long
anti-Israel voting record - Cynthia McKinney (D), Conyers
(D), Dingell (D), Kilpatrick (D), Kucinich (D), Rahall (D),
Obey (D) and most of the others that I have neglected to
mention.
Also of note is that of the 9 representatives who were
present but elected to not vote, all were Democrats. The 9
are listed below:
California: Watson (D)
Illinois: Davis (D), Gutierrez (D), Jackson (D), Rush (D)
Indiana: Carson (D)
Missouri: Clay (D)
New Jersey: Payne (D)
Texas: E.B. Johnson (D)
Perhaps this information will be of some use at your next
visit to the voting booth??


