AUGUSTA – Ninety-two House and Senate Democrats along with one independent from the Legislature have signed a letter to Congress that was released Thursday expressing concern over United States policy toward Iraq.

Specifically, the letter to Maine’s congressional delegation puts the signers on record opposing what they described as the troop escalation proposed by President Bush in January.

At the State House, Democratic organizers of the letter-drafting held a news conference to publicize their position.

“Our letter is a way of saying it is time to stop,” said Rep. Thomas Watson, D-Bath, one of several military veterans playing a lead role at the news conference.

The letter reads, in part: “We, the signers of this letter, wish to express first and foremost how proud we are of Maine’s men and women in service in Iraq. We are writing this letter because the lives of brave Maine citizens are at risk there and here at home.

“We share the concerns of many prominent leaders in Congress and the armed forces that the president’s proposal for troop escalation is not an appropriate measure in bringing an end to America’s presence in Iraq. We have further concerns about the impact such a move would have on the people of Maine, as the federal budget continues to shift away from vital services for Maine people, and our servicemen and women continue to shoulder a disproportionate weight in service to our country.

“As the cost of maintaining our presence in Iraq escalates, it is our most vulnerable citizens who feel the pain of this continuing dramatic shift in priorities for our tax dollars. We cannot in good conscience stand idly by as more funds are channeled into the war effort while children in Maine and across the country are facing the very real threat of losing health care coverage,” the letter says.

The legislators’ letter drew an immediate thanks from 1st District U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Portland Democrat.

“The message in your letter demonstrates you are listening to Maine’s citizens. I hear the same voices and am committed to help lead the effort to chart a new direction toward ending the war in Iraq,” Allen said.

“This week, while the Senate debate on Iraq remains hamstrung due to the delaying tactics of a minority, the House is holding four days of open debate on a resolution supporting our armed forces and disapproving of the president’s escalation plan. While I am proud to participate in this debate and to support this resolution, Congress also must exercise its constitutional authority to devise and initiate a strategy to end this war. Maine people deserve to know where their federal elected officials stand on the war, not just the escalation,” Allen said.

Democratic legislative leaders also received congratulations of a sort from Republican state Sen. Jon Courtney of Sanford – not for what the letter said but for how the issue was handled.

“I want to commend the Democratic leadership for moving the Iraq resolution out of the chambers of the Maine House and Senate,” Courtney said in a statement.

“This is a gesture of good will that shows that the members are concerned with working together. As individuals they have every right to their opinion and I am pleased that they have chosen to exercise it outside of the chambers,” Courtney said.

Courtney also expressed concern of his own about “a perception of nonsupport for our troops.”