National Missile Defense Debated in State Legislatures By Ann Ober and Nan Grogan Orrock Shadow supporters of Bush’s national missile defense (NMD) proposal have launched a campaign to pass state legislative resolutions in favor of this ill-considered and costly project. WiLL members in New Hampshire rallied against the pro-NMD resolution in January, but were defeated in mid-February. At least seven other states—CA, HI, ID, PA, VT, SC, and GA—have introduced similar resolutions. Started under the Eisenhower administration, the national missile defense program has had few successes, and today has even less promise. Yet every year we pour billions of dollars into the program. In the FY02 budget Congress and President Bush allotted another $7.8 billion, an increase of $2.5 billion from FY01 for this wasteful project. Every dollar spent on this bad idea is a dollar taken away from programs that deliver crucial human services or help provide real security. Real security relies on a nation of well-educated, well-housed, healthy, and fully employed citizens who can raise their children with a hopeful future. Wasting precious tax dollars on national missile defense schemes does not help reach these goals. The stealth resolution campaign has prevailed in Georgia (Senate), Idaho (both chambers), Pennsylvania (House), New Mexico (House), and New Hampshire (House). With decisive organizing, however, Vermont state legislators were able to defeat the resolution. WiLL can provide you with fact sheets, sample letters and op-eds, press releases, names of allies and experts, and a summary of the views of your state’s congressional delegation. We have developed an anti- NMD resolution for introduction in your state legislature that is a useful tool for educating the public on how this bad idea actually threatens true national security, harming both our national budget and our international relations with allies. For more information and a toolkit for fighting the national missile defense scheme, please call 202-543-8505 or email will@wand.org. Transforming the Debate in Washington By Kimberly Robson WAND PAC works to elect progressive women to Congress who will support policies that promote real security—security that is grounded not in an inflated military budget, but in programs that promote safe and healthy communities around the world. The 2002 election cycle is already in full swing, and a key race WAND is watching is the primary Rep. Lynn Rivers (MI-13) will face on August 6, 2002. Since her election in 1994, Rep. Rivers has been speaking out for the needs of our communities. She is a dynamic, hardworking Congresswoman who is known as a staunch advocate of the environment, education, seniors, women, minorities and moderation in military spending. She has an impressive voting record on WAND’s issues and has shown her support for WAND on many tough votes. As a result of redistricting, Rep. Rivers will face another Democratic incumbent in the primary election. Rep. Rivers is a progressive voice we can’t afford to lose. With the help of WAND PAC and its contributors, Lynn Rivers will represent Michigan in the next Congress. WAND Members can send contributions to WAND PAC at 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 205, Washington, DC 20002. Chellie Pingree, a Maine candidate for U.S. Senate, describes her progressive platform at a February WAND PAC fundraiser in Atlanta. While in the Maine senate, Pingree worked to advance important issues of economic and social justice, from education to fair prescription drug pricing. Now she is campaigning to fight for the same issues in the U.S. Senate.

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