Larson, Himes only “yes” votes on resolutions critical of U.S. role in Libya

With two notable exceptions, the Connecticut delegation voted against twin resolutions critical of the U.S. military involvement in Libya.

After an impassioned House debate Friday about the U.S. role in that conflict, the House approved a resolution stating that President Barack Obama had “failed to provide Congress with a compelling rationale” for the U.S. military involvement in Libya.

The measure, offered by House Speaker John Boehner, did not call for a withdrawal of U.S. troops. But it would require the president to provide Congress with detailed information about the conflict-along with a justification for not seeking congressional authorization for the military action.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-4^th District, was the only Democrat in the Connecticut delegation to support Boehner’s resolution, which passed the House 268-to-145.

By contrast, Larson, D-1^st District, was the only Connecticut House member to support a more far-reaching resolution, offered by anti-war Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. The Kucinich measure would have directed President Barack Obama to withdrawal U.S. troops from the conflict in Libya within 15 days.

The state’s other U.S. House members-Reps. Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, and Chris Murphy-all voted no on both resolutions.