NEWS
Wisconsin cities to opine on war
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by Courtney Johnson
Monday, October 30, 2006
Almost a dozen Wisconsin communities will get the chance to tell Washington politicians what to do about the war in Iraq come November.
Eleven advisory referendums appearing on city ballots — such as those in South Milwaukee, Middleton, Boscobel, Milwaukee, Racine and Springdale — relate to bringing U.S. troops home immediately.
"There's strong feelings, obviously, about this issue," Middleton City Council President James Wexler said. "Even though the federal government is unlikely to change directions, it was important to make public sentiment on the issue known."
Wexler added he expects the referendum to pass.
Many of the referendums are worded identically to the "Bring the Troops Home" referendum that 32 Wisconsin municipalities, including Madison, voted on in April. Voters in 24 of the 32 communities passed the referendum, with Madison having the largest "Yes" vote.
While supporters hope the referendum will send a clear message to the federal government, experts are doubtful of the national impact.
"[The referendum] is more important for the community than anything else," said Susan Paddock, a University of Wisconsin governmental affairs professor. "There have been any number of polls that show growing public discontent or non-support of the Iraqi War, so these are just one more way that gets demonstrated."
But Steve Burns, program coordinator for the Madison-based Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, said his organization has already seen national responses to the April referendum, citing the addition of similar referendums to ballots in 139 Massachusetts communities.
"Organizers said they were inspired by the work we did here in Wisconsin," Burns said. "We think there's definitely been a huge shift in public opinion about the war."
He added that, based on the support received in April, he expects these referendums to pass even in traditionally Republican communities, such as South Milwaukee.
"I think people who are traditional Republicans look at this war and don't see anything conservative about it," Burns said, referencing the increased national deficit and nation-building tactics being used by the government in Iraq.
About 80 percent of the Wisconsin National Guard has served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, and more than 60 Wisconsinites have been killed in the Iraq War.
Unlike last spring's referendum, which had vocal opponents in Madison and La Crosse, no active opposition has emerged for the November referendum. This election's referendums have also drawn little media attention.
Ultimately, Paddock said she doesn't expect Washington's approach to the Iraq War to change without a significant shift in leadership.
"If control of the House and Senate changes [to Democrat] this November … there will be more pressure on the White House and the Cabinet to reconsider how we are conducting the Iraqi War," she said.
Referendums in Wisconsin Rapids and Pittsville are also asking voters whether impeachment proceedings should be brought against President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
If any of these referendums pass, the government is not required to comply.
