More than 20 communities in Wisconsin will have a non-binding referendum on their April or November ballots asking citizens to vote on whether or not the U.S. should begin withdrawing troops from Iraq. Most of these referenda are on the ballot because local citizens gathered signatures, under Wisconsin's Direct Legislation statute, to force a city council to either agree with the legislation or place it on the next ballot for a vote of citizens.
Watertown, Wisconsin has decided not to play by the rules.
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AWisconsin Green who worked on the Watertown petition drive reports that their City Clerk certified the petition as legal but one alderman lead a one vote majority to rule it illegal. The group, with the aid of a pro bono attorney, is suing the city council to have the referendum placed on the ballot.
The Watertown Daily Times has an internet poll. Please freep this poll. (Look on the lower left of the page.)
Many people believe that constituent pressure will help quicken a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq. At the very least, these referenda are encouraging information and debate, something that has been sorely lacking on the local level since before "shock and awe" began.
Help Watertown, Wisconsin and the U.S. come to their senses.