Gary Storm on social-issue ballot referenda

Hello. My name is Gary Storm. I am a resident of Urbana and a member of AWARE, the local peace and justice organization.

I am here today to remind voters in Urbana and Champaign that there are three non-binding referenda on the Primary Election ballot tomorrow. These referenda are there to give you an opportunity to let your elected representatives know where you stand on important social issues. Each referendum asks you to support or reject a proposed course of action. Each is stated in the form of a question to which you can respond either "Yes" or "No". Let me first read the two questions that will appear on the ballots of both the Urbana and Champaign voters:

First, "Shall the voters...call upon their elected representatives in Congress to do all in their power to repeal or amend the military Commission Act in order to restore the U.S. Constitutional right of habeas corpus and to uphold the internationally recognized rules of law, thereby preventing the cruel and inhuman treatment and the arbitrary and indefinite detention for all detainees held by the U.S. government?"

And second, "Shall the voters ...call upon their elected representatives in Congress to pursue all available means to limit military funding in Iraq to only what is required to bring all U.S. troops home safely?"

Voters in Urbana will also be given an opportunity to vote on the question, "Shall the voters call upon their elected representatives in Congress to pursue all available means to prevent war with Iran, including passing legislation that would explicitly prohibit the President from attacking Iran without Congressional authorization?"

Voters in Champaign will be given the opportunity to vote on the question, "Shall the voters of the City of Champaign Township as the Town Trustees to restore the level of general assistance funding by actively pursuing any and all means available to them in order to preserve the health and well-being of individuals, children, families and adults living in extreme poverty in our Township?"

These referenda can be examined on the AWARE web site: "www.anti-war.net". That's www.anti-war.net". Please look for the referenda on your ballots and exercise your civic right and duty to let your voice be heard. Thank you.