Budget and Finance Committee forwards resolution urging U.S. withdrawal from Iraq to full Board

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee agreed without objection to forward to the full Board a resolution calling on the United States Congress to revoke the U.S. commitment of military forces in Iraq and to secure the immediate, safe and orderly withdrawal of all troops from Iraq.

Chris Staley, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, introduced the resolution and said he convened the special meeting because developments in Congress were moving "minute by minute." Clerk Linda Laws read the resolution’s text into the record as the formal item before the committee.

Staley framed the measure as a statement of the city and county’s position and cited figures from the National Priorities Project to underline the local fiscal stakes. "San Francisco's share," he said, "is $1,376,873,000," and he noted that money, if redirected, could fund local priorities such as preschool, health care, college scholarships and public housing.

Supervisor Duffy, who cosponsored the resolution, said she supported putting the city's position on record and praised federal leaders working to curtail the conflict. Supervisor Ross Mercarimi called the resolution "a no brainer," described the war as "misdirected, misguided, and frankly, an illegal war," and warned the crisis could spill over into other regions.

A member of the public, identified in the record as Miss Leitner, urged supervisors to heed voters’ opposition to the war, saying "we don't want the war" and expressing hope the resolution would pass at the full Board meeting.

After brief discussion, Chair Staley asked for a motion to move the item to the full Board with a recommendation. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Duffy and, without recorded objection, the committee agreed to report the item to the full Board for consideration at the next Board meeting.

The committee adjourned after roughly ten minutes of business.