Stark, Lee Snub Amendment Recognizing Capture of Bin Laden

EACH VOTE PRESENT ON HOUSE BILL HONORING INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY
Three members of the California House delegation from the Bay Area, including Reps. Pete Stark and Barbara Lee voted present last week on a tag-along amendment recognizing the work of the intelligence community in finding and killing Osama Bin Laden.

Reps Lynn Woolsey and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) also voted present.

While the others did not explain their votes, Lee told the congressional newspaper, The Hill, she commended the president and the soldiers for their work, but voted present on the grounds of the entire intelligence authorization bill. Lee is one of the most liberal voices in congress and a staunch opponent of the nation’s military excursions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I voted present on this amendment, which contains overly broad language I believe to be inconsistent with the simple and important message of acclamation for the work of the intelligence community leading to the death of Osama Bin Laden,” Lee said.

Contained in the amendment was language honoring the intelligence community for “disrupting, dismantling, and defeating al Qaeda and affiliated organizations around the world that threaten the national security of the United States.” It also recognizes eliminating “safe havens for terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and bringing terrorists to justice.”