Ballard state Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles says with the cost of the war in Iraq mounting and President Bush calling for an escalation of troop levels, she and several other lawmakers have introduced Senate Joint Memorial 8003, which calls on Congress and President Bush to not escalate involvement in Iraq or increase troop levels. In addition, the joint memorial requests that Congress pass legislation requiring the President to seek Congressional approval before spending taxpayer money on any escalation of the war.

"At a time when the overwhelming majority of Americans are opposed to the President's policy in Iraq, it is unconscionable to commit additional funds to this foreign policy debacle, nor to put any additional soldiers in harm's way, without appropriate oversight by the Congress," said Sen. Kohl-Welles.