January 10, 2009
US House Passes Resolution In Support Of Israel - Two Minnesota Reps Vote "Present"
As would be expected, Keith Ellison voted present.
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution today supporting Israel in the current violence in the Middle East. The resolution passed 390-5 with 22 voting 'present' and 16 not voting.Six Minnesota representatives voted for the measure. Reps. Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum voted 'present'. The U.S. Senate passed the resolution yesterday by a voice vote.
Ellison did not release a statement in regards to the vote, but put out a strong statement Dec. 31[link] calling for an end to the violence. He also spoke on Al Jazeera about Gaza[link].
McCollum released a statement about the resolution today, citing concerns that it didn't order for an immediate cease fire in Gaza. Here is what she said on the House floor:
Madam Speaker, the resolution before the House today, H. Res. 34, justifies Israel's bombardment of the citizens of Gaza, sanctions the incursion of Israeli troops into Gaza to clear this occupied territory of Hamas fighters regardless of the human cost, and calls for "supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process" while innocent Palestinian women and children are being killed in Gaza. more...
Nays: Kucinich, Moore (WI). Paul, Rahall and Waters
Voting Present: Abercrombie, Blumenauer, DeFazio, Dingell, Edward(MD,) Ellison, Farr and Grijalva.
Complete vote count here
Related: Rep Keith Ellison's Trip to Mecca Funded by MAS of Minnesota
