Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 10:34 PM
Subject: TAPS News Release: Butte Iraq Resolution approved!!!!
Contacts:
Helena: John Mundinger (406) 449-8996 Butte: Dave Coleman (406) 498-5925 Missoula: Betsy Mulligan-Dague (406) 543 3955
For Immediate Release:
Butte is the First Montana City to Call for Withdrawal from Iraq
Today the Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners voted 8 - 4 to pass a resolution calling for a “rapid and comprehensive withdrawal” from Iraq. Butte is the first Montana city to call for the withdrawal of troops, and joins hundreds of cities and towns nationwide who have called for an end to the occupation of Iraq.
The resolution also calls on congress to fully fund mental, physical health, education, disability and rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and to pursue security and stability through diplomacy. The resolution was introduced to the council last April by a group of veterans and concerned citizens called the Butte Montanans Support our Troops and Withdrawal from Iraq Coalition.
“With this vote for withdrawal from Iraq, the Butte-Silver Bow government has made it clear that local cities and towns should have a voice on the war in Iraq,” said council member Dave Coleman, whose son was injured serving in Iraq. “This is a call for accountability in Washington D.C.”
This spring, citizens from Helena, Missoula, and Butte announced a statewide campaign to pass municipal-level measures requesting support for U.S. troops and withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq. The campaign, called Montanans Support for Troops and Military Withdrawal, includes veterans, students, mothers and fathers of soldiers, and hundreds of public and private professionals.
On March 12th, the Helena City Commission voted unanimously to place a referendum calling for withdrawal from Iraq on the ballot for voters to pass or fail in November. Missoula city council members are now considering similar measures to those in Butte and Helena. However, Butte is the first Montana city to formally call for increased support for military personnel and an end to war in Iraq.
“Voters across America called for change last November,” asserted John Mundinger, a veteran and spokesman for Helenans for Troops Home. Senator Tester, Senator Baucus, and Representative Rehberg need to be reminded that communities across Montana will speak up even if they don’t.”
Betsy Mulligan-Dague, Executive Director of the Jeanette Rankin Peace Center, added that, “Nearly 300 cities across the country have passed measures calling for withdrawal from Iraq. Butte has had the courage to become the whistleblower for Montana. Helena and Missoula are answering the call, and we hope other Montana cities and towns will do the same.”
The Butte Resolution was supported by Commissioners Coleman, Lee, Sheehy, Mulcahy, Moodry, O’Leary, Fay and Foley It was opposed by Commissioners Shaw, Granger, Fraz and Sorich.
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