Helena, Montana: Competing War Resolutions

An Iraq withdrawal resolution on the 2007 Helena, MT ballot has drawn a reactionary "pro-military" resolution, giving voters the chance to weigh in on both sides of one of the most emotional issues of the year.

From the Helena Independent Record:

City commissioners on Monday, in a 3-2 vote, approved the placement of the military-funding referendum on the ballot after hearing support from a handful of residents, among them a former governor and a former Helena legislator.

A wide-ranging commission debate lasted longer than the public hearing. Some officials said they saw no reason to deny the referendum, which was forwarded by a Helena couple. Others said the ballot issue, when combined with the Iraq war referendum — which commissioners approved in March — could result in conflicting messages.

“I just think there’s so much emotion,” Mayor Jim Smith said after the meeting. “I just felt like this would give everybody a chance to make their mark, state their opinion.”

Commissioner Sandy Oitzinger believes the Iraq war ballot issue stands on its own, allowing citizens to support or oppose the immediate, orderly and safe withdrawal of troops from the war-torn nation.

“I fear and feel that (this referendum) will muddy the waters,” she said.