Speaking of non-binding resolutions...

A group of House Democrats have co-sponsored a concurrent resolution that would have the Legislature register disapproval of the Bush administration's plan to send another 20,000 troops to Iraq.

The measure prefaces this proposed disapprobation by stating that "The Legislature and the citizens of West Virginia will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq..."

Its language (and weight) mirrors that of the resolution approved by the U.S. House of Representatives after lengthy discussion last week.

As The Associated Press' Tom Breen reports, as many as a dozen other states are considering similar measures. Vermont's Legislature has already passed one, as has the Iowa Senate, Breen found. Lawmakers in Maryland and Maine, meanwhile, have issued letters to make a similar point.

Breen talked to interest groups that spoke in support of the West Virginia resolution during a Capitol press conference. MetroNews covered the Monday event as well, and offers audio.

The AP also talked to House Minority Leader Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, a member of the Rules Committee that would decide whether to add the resolution to the House's agenda.

"Some may disagree with this, but I think that this kind of resolution is discouraging to our troops," Armstead told AP. "If they decide to run it, they should expect hours and hours of debate on it."

The push for the resolution follows last week's picketing and 10-hour sit-in at the Kanawha City office of U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., by opponents of the Bush administration plan.