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Published on Thursday, April 8, 2010 by Portland Daily Sun (Maine)

Maine Anti-War Campaign Nabs Resolution Victory in State's Largest City

by Casey Conley

City councilors have approved a resolution calling on Maine's U.S. Congressional delegation to oppose new funding for military campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Unlike similar measures which have come before cities and towns in other part of the country, the resolution approved 7-1 Monday night didn't question war rationale or the justness of the campaigns themselves. Instead, the resolution argues that we no longer afford the wars given the fragile economy and deep budget cuts seen in communities across the state and the nation.

The nonbinding resolution was sponsored by Councilors John Anton, Dan Skolnik and Dory Waxman. Councilor John Coyne was the only councilor to oppose the measure.

Councilor Cheryl Leeman, who works for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, was not present for the vote.

In an interview Tuesday, Skolnik said he hoped the measure would increase consciousness "among four or five extremely influential people. And they are (Maine's Second District Congressman Mike) Michaud, Pingree, Snowe, Collins and (President Barack) Obama."

He said the measure also tries to demonstrate "the fact that cities and towns like ours are really hurting and the fact that the military industrial complex isn't."

Although Skolnik revised and edited the resolution down to its current form, a rough draft was written by Gary Higginbottom, a 60-year-old consultant who lives in the West End. Higginbottom, who isn't paid by any campaign or political cause, says the resolution came about "from frustration on the part of Maine people whose money is going into warfare at a time when we can't afford to pay for our schools."

Based on his calculations, Portland's share of war expenses come to $15 million a year. Higginbottom arrives at those figures by dividing the total cost of the Iraq and Afghan wars by Portland's total population.

These wars are "not paid for by some sugar daddy that has no impact on us. The cost of this is the cost we bear in taxation we pay now or indebtedness because we are paying for the wars essentially ... on the government's credit card," he said.

Through the Web site BringOurWarDollarsHome.org, Higginbottom and about 60 others are trying to get other Maine cities and towns to take a position on the issue. He says residents from Deer Isle approved a similar resolution at their town meeting this year and that councilors in Brunswick and Bath may also vote on the resolution.

Although the resolution is nonbinding -- which means it doesn't compel Pingree, Snowe or Collins to vote one way or another -- Higginbottom and others say they are hoping to highlight the war's costs at a time when city and state budgets across Maine are stretched thin.

"We are faced with major issues on how to pay for our school system, infrastructure and police, and yet $15 million going right down drain out of the economy," he said.

Although he hadn't heard about the resolution until asked about it by a reporter, Willy Ritch, a spokesman for Chellie Pingree, said the Congresswoman already opposes additional war funding.

"Congress is likely to consider additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the next few months and Congresswoman Pingree has urged Congressional leaders to allow an up or down vote on that funding," he said. "If given the opportunity to vote on such a bill she would vote against further funding."

Attempts to reach spokespersons for Sens. Snowe and Collins were unsuccessful after hours Tuesday evening.

Emails sent to Councilors Anton and Waxman seeking comment on the resolution weren't returned my press time.
© 2010 Daily Sun
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