Congress should immediately pass an EXCESS PROFITS TAX.

Congress did it in World War I.
Congress did it in World War II.
Congress did it in the Korean War.

The Berkeley City Council passed this resolution unanimously (9-0) on April 8, 2003.

RESOLUTION BY CITY COU.N.CIL TO TAKE THE PROFIT OUT OF WAR WHEREAS, the people of the City of Berkeley believe in the U.S. Constitution and are committed to the rule of law and not of men in government, and support U.S. troops in all lawful actions, and believe in peace and in the peaceful settlement of disputes; and

WHEREAS, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a message to Congress July 1, 1940: úWe are engaged in a great national effort to build up our national defenses to meet any and every potential attack, …

It is our duty to see that the burden is equitably distributed according to ability to pay so that a few do not gain from the sacrifices of the many.

I therefore recommend to the Congress the enactment of a steeply graduated excess-profits tax, to be applied to all individuals and all corporate organizations without discrimination, and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Defense is now making contracts for more war materiel to complete the war in Iraq, and is also making contracts to deal with the so-called “rebuilding” of Iraq after the end of the bombing and military actions; and

WHEREAS, the members of the U.S. Armed Forces are not making excess wages out of this war, but are suffering now, and some will suffer for the rest of their lives, from the actions they are now taking and will take in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bob LaFollette fought and won an excess profits tax in World War One because “Doubling of profits was common, while a few firms experienced increases of a factor of ten or even close to fifty [per cent],”

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Berkeley City Council strongly urges our Congress members in the House and Senate to introduce legislation calling for a high percentage tax on all excess profits on every contract dealing with U.S. military action in Iraq and/or the “rebuilding” of Iraq, including renegotiation of all such contracts made to include this tax; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be sent to every California Congress member, the U.S. Department of Defense, President George W. Bush, the United Nations Security Council President and the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.