[progchat_action] California legislature votes to put Iraq pullout measure on ballot
 
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:21:10 -0500 (CDT)


California Assembly votes to put Iraq pullout measure on ballot

By Steve Lawrence,
Associated Press
Monday, August 27, 2007

Sacramento -- Putting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a tight political
position, the state Assembly voted Monday to place a measure on California's
Feb. 5 ballot urging President Bush to immediately withdraw American troops
from Iraq.

The 43-32 roll call left the proposal one step from Schwarzenegger's desk.
It was sent back to the Senate, which approved a slightly different version
of the bill in June.

Final approval by the Senate would send the bill to the Republican governor,
who could risk angering members of his own party by signing it and putting
it on the presidential primary ballot or veto the bill and draw the wrath of
the war's opponents.

The bill, by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, asks voters if
Bush should "achieve the immediate, complete, safe and orderly withdrawal of
United States forces" from Iraq.

Schwarzenegger has tried to steer a middle course on the issue, saying he
supports the troops and the war on terror but also backs a "timetable for
withdrawal."

A spokesman for the governor, Aaron McLear, said Schwarzenegger had not
taken a position on the bill.

"We're aware of it," McLear said. "We have not reviewed the final version.
We will review it and obviously take a position and take action on it."

The Assembly vote split mainly along party lines, with Democrats arguing
that the invasion of Iraq had been a disaster that had cost the United
States dearly in lives and dollars.

"If silence equals consent, we cannot remain silent anymore," said
Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley. "We need to give the citizens of
California a concrete opportunity to express their hopes."

Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, said the decision to invade Iraq
was a "terrible mistake, one that's making our country weaker, not
stronger - one that's empowering terrorists."

But Republicans argued that an immediate withdrawal would threaten U.S.
troops, encourage terrorism and trigger more violence in the region.

"Yes I want to withdraw from Iraq," said Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yuca
Valley. "But I want to do it so we do not endanger those troops and ...
embolden certain elements."

The version approved in the Assembly would ask voters the following
question: "Shall President George W. Bush, in support of the men and women
serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, end the United States
occupation of Iraq and achieve the immediate, complete, safe and orderly
withdrawal of United States forces; and, further, shall President George W.
Bush and the Congress provide the necessary diplomatic and nonmilitary
assistance to promote peace and stability in Iraq and the Middle East?"

Some Republicans charged that the bill was a cynical attempt by Democrats to
boost the turnout of voters who also might support an initiative to modify
legislators' term limits. The term-limits initiative, which is intended for
the Feb. 5 ballot, would allow Perata and dozens of other lame-duck
lawmakers to run for re-election next year.

"This is a political poll being done for political reasons at a politically
expedient time," said Assemblyman John Benoit, R-Palm Desert.

But Perata said he doubted that an advisory vote on the Iraq war would
translate into votes for the term limits initiative.

"I don't know if anything is going to help that," he told reporters.

While the Assembly was debating whether to pull out of Iraq, the Senate
approved a resolution urging the president to stop sending National Guard
troops to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The measure's author, Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, said members of
the National Guard are needed at home.

"We are plagued by earthquakes and wildfires" in California, Migden said.
"We don't have adequate resources, personnel."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/08/27/state/n175944
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