Brandon Lacy stated: "Just as Martin Sabo has been elected to the House of Representatives to represent the people and interests of the 5th District of the State of Minnesota, and Gary Schiff been elected to represent the people and the interests of the 9th Ward of the city of Minneapolis. We wouldn't bat an eye at Sabo if he made a position statement on the War (and he has), but we are up in arms about Gary Schiff. Preposterous."
[MM] We elected Martin Sabo to vote on matters of federal and foreign policy. We elected Gary Schiff to vote on matters of local policy. Gary Schiff can most certainly make a position statement on the war and he can state it far and wide, just as Mayor Rybak does (I've run into him at a peace march or two in the last few months). The issue is a matter of jurisdiction. Our government operates with established jurisdictions and we elect representatives to deal with the issues at hand in those jurisdictions. Would it be strange if Martin Sabo asked the U.S. Congress to pass a resolution on whether the City of Minneapolis should adopt the Focus Minneapolis reform measures? Should the City Council pass a resolution stating that the State Legislature shouldn't cut our LGA? From a government structure standpoint, these are really same question as asking whether the City Council should adopt a resolution about the war. The innappropriateness just looks a little more obvious when it is framed this way. I would love to be able to say I live in a city that passed an anti-war resolution. BUT, I do not believe it is within the jurisdiction of the City Council or Mayor to take official action on federal issues. Michelle Mensing Armatage _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
