Representative Scott:

As one of your constituents living in the Redland area near Oregon City, I'd like to let you know about an anniversary in my family.  Three
years ago tomorrow is the day my family received that heart-stopping knock at the door in the wee hours.  Three years ago tomorrow my
brother called me sobbing to tell me that his son, my 19 year old nephew, was hit by a roadside bomb and died in Iraq.  Three years ago
tomorrow my family changed forever and there is no going back.

You will never know that kind of pain and I do not wish it on you.  I do wish that you could at least try to understand that the war in Iraq has
and continues to affect the lives of Oregonians. Not just the 79 killed, but the hundreds maimed, suffering PTSD and those serving
extended tours and all their families that suffer with them.

You stated in the article below, that for Oregon lawmakers to address the terrible loss of our nations' soldiers and resources is a "waste
of time."  You see other issues as far more important, many of them having to do with distribution of funding.  Besides the affect on
families like ours, surely you can imagine how $366 billion in war spending must be affecting every function of our system down to the
local level, the very issues you mention--"improving schools, growing the economy and strengthening public safety in our state."  You said
that taking time to draw attention to the costs of war in Oregon is "political grandstanding" by house Democrats.  You also made sure that
in your tenure as House Majority Leader, no such legislation was ever allowed to come up for consideration.

I am sick at heart to know that your voice is representing me in my state capitol. The death of my nephew in a war that continues, based
on lies means nothing to you.  The cost to my nation, my state and my district of this war that continues, endangering the future of my own
sons means nothing to you.  Mr. Scott, you do NOT speak for me or my family.  Those of us that are speaking out, trying to bring an end to
this war--we ARE speaking for you and your family and your children and grandchildren.  Please remember that as our family
commemorates the 19 years of my nephew's life and his heroic sacrifice in service of his country.

Sincerely,

Annette Pritchard

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Democrats in Legislature tout anti-Iraq war resolution
Published: February 1, 2007
The Associated Press

SALEM - Democrats in the Oregon House and Senate say they will push for a
vote on a resolution opposing President Bush's escalation of the war in
Iraq and urging the "prompt, safe return" of all U.S. troops.

Dubbed the "Oregon Homeward Bound Act of 2007," the nonbinding resolution
urges Congress to resist Bush's troop buildup in Iraq and instead to bring
home all U.S. troops by August.

"It is time to stand up for our troops and their families," said Rep. Chip
Shields, D-Portland, who is the chief sponsor of the draft resolution. "We
can't ask Oregon's sons and daughters to spill their blood for Iraq's
security forever."

But House Republican Leader Wayne Scott questioned whether the Legislature
should spend its time sending nonbinding resolutions to Congress, which
already is debating Bush's move to send 21,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq.

"Oregon faces a long list of serious issues to resolve, including
improving schools, growing the economy and strengthening public safety in
our state," the Canby lawmaker said. "House Democrats need to stop wasting
time on political grandstanding and get to work."

Democrats said, however, that the resolution is useful because it lets
members of Congress know that state legislators are backing them in their
efforts to stand up to the Bush administration's "surge" in Iraq.

Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, said the war in Iraq already has cost the
U.S. $300 billion and that state and federal lawmakers need to stand
together to oppose the war.

"It is simply time to bring our troops home and move the country forward,"
Walker said.

Among those supporting the resolution is Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene, whose
son, U.S. Army staff Sgt. Justin Holvey, recently returned from a yearlong
deployment in Iraq, where he earned a Bronze star.

Holvey, noting that 79 soldiers or Marines with Oregon ties have died in
Iraq or Afghanistan, said Oregon troops keep fighting on in Iraq and that
"they don't question the policies" of the Bush administration that sent
them there.

"It's up to us to raise these questions," he said. "This administration
has betrayed the patriotism of our troops."
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GOLD STAR OPINION-Letter to OR Rep Wayne Scott- Annette Pritchard