Gary
Storm on social-issue ballot referenda
February 4, 2008
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Hello. My name is Gary Storm. I am a resident of Urbana
and a member of AWARE, the local peace and justice
organization.
I am here today to remind voters in Urbana and Champaign that
there are three non-binding referenda on the Primary
Election ballot tomorrow. These referenda are there to
give you an opportunity to let your elected
representatives know where you stand on important social
issues. Each referendum asks you to support or reject a
proposed course of action. Each is stated in the form of
a question to which you can respond either "Yes" or
"No". Let me first read the two questions that will
appear on the ballots of both the Urbana and Champaign
voters:
First, "Shall the voters...call upon their elected
representatives in Congress to do all in their power to
repeal or amend the military Commission Act in order to
restore the U.S. Constitutional right of habeas corpus
and to uphold the internationally recognized rules of
law, thereby preventing the cruel and inhuman treatment
and the arbitrary and indefinite detention for all
detainees held by the U.S. government?"
And second, "Shall the voters ...call upon their elected
representatives in Congress to pursue all available
means to limit military funding in Iraq to only what is
required to bring all U.S. troops home safely?"
Voters in Urbana will also be given an opportunity to vote on
the question, "Shall the voters call upon their elected
representatives in Congress to pursue all available
means to prevent war with Iran, including passing
legislation that would explicitly prohibit the President
from attacking Iran without Congressional
authorization?"
Voters in Champaign will be given the opportunity to vote on
the question, "Shall the voters of the City of Champaign
Township as the Town Trustees to restore the level of
general assistance funding by actively pursuing any and
all means available to them in order to preserve the
health and well-being of individuals, children, families
and adults living in extreme poverty in our Township?"
These referenda can be examined on the AWARE web site: "www.anti-war.net".
That’s www.anti-war.net". Please look for the referenda
on your ballots and exercise your civic right and duty
to let your voice be heard. Thank you.
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