Chief
05-01-2008, 05:40 PM
http://thecolumbian.com/
LA CENTER — Last year, the city council said “no sewer deal” with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
This year, the council, after heated debate, said “no public vote” on whether there should be a sewer deal and other negotiations with the tribe.
The council voted 3-2 Wednesday night to reject a two-part advisory vote that Councilman Bill Birdwell proposed putting before city voters during the Aug. 19 primary.
**SCHNIPP**
Good for some on La Center's City Council who believe in taking a stnad on an issue instead of deferring to those vocal few who demand a public vote on damned near everything.
We hear far too many demands to vote on everything fom the local contingent of C.A.V.E. (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) who are constantly beating the drum about voting on this or that here in Vancouver when we have duly elected City Council Critters and other comissioners who ought to be doing the homework on these issues and taking a firm stand, based on the facts.
What seems to escape many of the "Let's Vote on Everything" crowd is who is going to pay for that vote. It costs big bucks to comply with the laws of the State and get an issue on the ballot; there are statutory deadlines that have to be met, and in many cases, by law an article has to run in the Voter's Pamphlet so many days before the ballots are mailed. And don't forget the cost of printing and mailing out those ballots, counting and reporting the results.
While it sounds great to vote on an issue, you need to consider the practicalities along with the reasons why we live in a Representative Democracy...
Stout hearts...
8)
LA CENTER — Last year, the city council said “no sewer deal” with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
This year, the council, after heated debate, said “no public vote” on whether there should be a sewer deal and other negotiations with the tribe.
The council voted 3-2 Wednesday night to reject a two-part advisory vote that Councilman Bill Birdwell proposed putting before city voters during the Aug. 19 primary.
**SCHNIPP**
Good for some on La Center's City Council who believe in taking a stnad on an issue instead of deferring to those vocal few who demand a public vote on damned near everything.
We hear far too many demands to vote on everything fom the local contingent of C.A.V.E. (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) who are constantly beating the drum about voting on this or that here in Vancouver when we have duly elected City Council Critters and other comissioners who ought to be doing the homework on these issues and taking a firm stand, based on the facts.
What seems to escape many of the "Let's Vote on Everything" crowd is who is going to pay for that vote. It costs big bucks to comply with the laws of the State and get an issue on the ballot; there are statutory deadlines that have to be met, and in many cases, by law an article has to run in the Voter's Pamphlet so many days before the ballots are mailed. And don't forget the cost of printing and mailing out those ballots, counting and reporting the results.
While it sounds great to vote on an issue, you need to consider the practicalities along with the reasons why we live in a Representative Democracy...
Stout hearts...
8)