Thompson Calls 'Draft' Vote Election Year Politics

Announcing that he will vote against the bill, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) called today's surprise vote on reinstating the military draft a shameless political maneuver unfitting of our troops' service. Thompson, a combat veteran and former member of the House Armed Services Committee, charged the Republican House Leadership with abusing House rules for their own political gain. By using a parliamentary maneuver usually reserved for noncontroversial legislation, the Republican leadership skirted the committee process and brought the legislation directly to the House floor without holding hearings or taking expert testimony in the Armed Services Committee. The bill is slated for a vote this afternoon under the rules of the Suspension Calendar which limits debate to 40 minutes and requires a two-thirds vote to pass. Thompson charged that bringing this legislation to the House floor without holding hearings or truly debating the issue of military manpower is a disservice not only to national policy but also to our troops. “The House Leadership seems to believe that any rumors of a potential military draft will be put to rest by defeating this bill. Unfortunately they are wrong,” Thompson said. “American families are concerned about a draft because our troops are bearing the excessive burdens of the war in Iraq. Talk of a draft will continue until the situation in Iraq stabilizes and we bring our troops home.” The Administration has not addressed many of the concerns that are raised by the bill such as the military's manpower needs, recruitment and retention and the overextension of our troops. # # #