Californians won't be voting on an advisory measure about the Iraq war this February. From Sacramento, Marianne Russ explains.
Just before a midnight deadline, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill that would have created the ballot measure. It would have asked voters whether the U.S. should begin the “immediate, complete, safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. forces.”
In his veto message, Schwarzenegger said placing a non-binding resolution about Iraq on the same ballot as the Presidential primary would “further divide voters and shift attention from other critical issues.” He indicated Californians who want to send a message on the Iraq war to Washington can do so when they vote for a Presidential candidate.
The bill was written by the Democratic leader of the state Senate, who said he was disappointed by the governor's decision. Republicans applauded it. They said the vote would have demoralized the troops.
