WASHINGTON - April 28 - In what is being described as a "dramatic change of course for GOP leaders," (The Hill, April 27) Majority Leader John Boehner has told his caucus of House Republicans that he supports a full and lengthy floor debate on the war in Iraq. The change comes on the heels of a two-week national grass-roots campaign by the Win Without War coalition demanding that House members sign a resolution that would force a seventeen hour debate on the floor of the House where all alternatives to the Bush war in Iraq would receive an up-or-down vote.

The bipartisan resolution has already been signed by Republican Representatives Walter Jones (R-NC), Jim Leach (R-IA), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD.), Ron Paul (R-TX) and Howard Coble (R-NC), and 101 of their Democratic allies.

"While members of Congress may not always be able to see the light, they can always feel the heat," said Win Without War National Director Tom Andrews, former Member of Congress from Maine. "Now we need to make certain that House Republican leaders do not try a parliamentary sleight of hand to distort and limit a debate on the Iraq war."

Andrews warned that Republican leaders might be tempted to limit debate and restrict alternatives from being considered. Win Without War has been supporting House Resolution 543 that calls for an immediate seventeen-hour debate where all alternatives to the Bush war are allowed onto the floor for consideration and vote. "Anything short of an open debate that allows ALL alternatives to be presented will be unacceptable. We need to make sure that this bottom-line is protected."

The coalition launched a national campaign two weeks ago as members of Congress returned home for the April recess. A web site created for the campaign, www.openiraqdebate.org, has already received more than a quarter million hits as thousands of coalition members wrote, called or visited their member of Congress demanding an open debate and vote on alternatives to the Bush war in Iraq. A print and radio ad campaign was launched in Minnesota and Ohio.

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