THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2006
NEWS
3A
COMMISSION
Opinion vote not approved
City commission denies request for Iraq opinion vote on Nov. ballot
BY MARK VIERTHALER
The city commission meeting room was filled to half capacity Tuesday as members of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice waited to discuss a proposed referendum.
Amid criticism from both supporters and denouncers, the Lawrence City Commission unanimously decided to deny a referendum to place an opinion vote on November's election ballot.
The coalition initially brought its proposal before the city commission last Tuesday.
During that meeting, Allan Hanson, a member of the coalition, stood before the five members of the commission and the mayor and delivered an impassioned speech about the need to vote on a community opinion about whether the United States should withdraw its forces from Iraq.
Hanson, reading from a prepared statement, declared the war in Iraq the most important issue facing America today. Hanson said the coalition was not asking the commission to take a personal stand on the issue. He requested the commission only place the poll question on the ballot for Nov. 7.
The coalition cited warrantless wire taps and citizens held without charges as reasons why "the voice of
the people needs to be heard."
As each commission member gave his opinion at last night's meeting, some coalition members listened with mouths agape. Others simply stared down at their feet until the five members had their say.
Hard debate came from those in attendance.
Anne Haehl, who is a member of the coalition and whose father and son are both veterans, spoke about her concern for the military occupation of Iraq.
"I'm proud of our soldiers, sailors and marines and our veterans," she said. "One of our proudest traditions is our military is subordinate to the citizens."
Haehl said she thought it was the community's responsibility to judge and question what the military is doing. This vote, she said, would have been an excellent way to let politicians know their constituents' opinions.
Jerome Hanson, Lawrence resident, said he was opposed to the proposition because it could set a precedent for any person who was upset about something to get a ballot made.
"This issue has a lot of heartstrings that are going to pulled in different directions," Hanson said. "Were mistakes made? It looks like there may well have been mistakes made. But we will have no effect on a federal level."
City commissioner Mike Rundle said he was opposed to voicing the public's opinion through an official ballot and recommended adopting an official mechanism to treat advisory elections.
Dennis "Boog" Highberger, city commissioner, was equally skeptical of the vote. He said it wasn't about the commission's opinion on Iraq, but about the proper way to bring the city's opinion to the federal government. Both commissioners Sue Hack and David Schauner voiced similar opinions.
"I hope people don't take this to mean we feel that the loss of life is not a difficult thing for all of us to bear," Hack said. "I just don't think this is the appropriate way to go about it."
Mayor Mike Amyx said he would take the coalition's concerns to Washington, D.C., when the commission visits next month.
Hanson said the coalition has plans to continue its quest for an official public opinion. He said they were not ready to publicly discuss what they were going to do until they had time to digest the decision of Tuesday's meeting.
Kansan staff writer Mark Vierthaler can be contacted at mvierthaler@ kansan.com.
Edited by Mindy Ricketts
NATIONAL
BRETT BARRONQUERE ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Kentucky funeral protest law suspended
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A federal judge has temporarily suspended Kentucky's law forbidding protests within 300 feet of military funerals and memorial services.
U. S. District Judge Karen Caldwell said Tuesday that the law goes too far in limiting free speech. The law aimed at Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, which is known for its anti-gay protests, is too broad, the judge said in issuing an injunction.
The zone is large enough that it would restrict communications intended for the general public on a matter completely unrelated to the funeral as well as messages targeted at funeral participants," Caldwell wrote in a 37-page ruling issued in Frankfort.
Earlier this year, the Kentucky General Assembly passed the law prohibiting nearly all protests at military
funerals.
Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo said he was considering an appeal.
"I believe that society has an interest in honoring its war dead. Funerals are times of sacred and solemn reflection which must be protected from aggressive disruption," Stumbo said in a statement.
State Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, one of the sponsors of the law, said the 300-foot barrier is the same buffer zone used to keep people from campaigning at voting precincts during elections.
"It would seem we want to give at least as much reverence to a funeral as we do an election." Buford said. "It seems like a sad day for our military."
Caldwell said the buffer zone would stop more than just protesters from speaking — it could restrict free speech rights in homes and on sidewalks and streets.
NATIONAL
Army medic turns himself in to face charges
ROBERT JABLON ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
LOS ANGELES — An Army medic who fled rather than serve a second tour in Iraq because he believes war is immoral turned himself in Tuesday to face a possible court-martial.
Army Spec. Agustin Aguayo, 34, turned himself in around 6 p.m. at Fort Irwin, an Army base in the Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles, said Army
spokesman Ken Drylie.
"It is the right thing to do," said Aguayo at a news conference in Los Angeles hours before going to the base. "I'm not a deserter or a coward."
Aguayo said he expected to face a court martial and some jail time.
"It's something I can live with," he said. "Something I can't live with is being a participant of war anymore."
Aguayo has unsuccessfully fought the Pentagon for more than two years to be declared a conscientious objector and win a discharge.
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