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Rybak Attends Mayor's Conference In Baltimore

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak spent the weekend in Baltimore for the annual Mayor's Conference -- a chance for mayors across the country to debate and discuss policies that affect their communities.

The mayors passed a resolution for Congress to end the war overseas and spend money here in the United States.

The resolution states $126 billion is spent annually on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The mayors believe that money should be spent on creating jobs and rebuilding infrastructure in the states.

Mayor Rybak said there's a strong message he's hoping to send to Congress.

"Well, as a mayor I've had to make incredibly difficult cuts and every mayor in america has had to do the same thing," he said. "That's our job, I'm not running from that. But I believe it's also the job of those who want to build up a defense without really building up the country.

I am hoping to send a message to Congress that if every mayor in America has to make cuts and things that are deeply impacting people's personal lives, Congress should also do the same with the defense budget."

Mayors from 1,200 cities are participating in the conference. It ends Monday.

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