Berkeley Update: Oh How they stepped in it...

Posted By Deebow

This is truly the continuously unfolding story...

As six Republican senators devised a plan to yank $2.3 million in federal funding for Berkeley programs, the mayor of the famously liberal city apologized Wednesday for his hard stance against a Marine recruiting center.

Two City Council members vowed to soften their stance as well. At their Tuesday council meeting, leaders will discuss scrapping a letter that might be perceived as targeting the center or the Marines. The letter said that the recruiting center was not welcome on Shattuck Avenue and that the Marines were uninvited and unwelcome intruders.

"That letter will probably be pulled back and maybe more moderate language will be put in place which is appropriate I think," (that doesn't sound like an apology to me) said Berkeley mayor Tom Bates. "Subtly stated in the resolution is perhaps an impugning of the soldiers fighting for us in Iraq and other places," Berkeley City Councilman Laurie Capitelli. "And that was never the intention but that really needs to be cleared up. As I walked to my car that night I realized I regretted it and I had made a mistake."

So, of course, this did not surprise me.

Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Barbara Lee said they plan to fight the Republican bill.

The Co-sponsors of the bill sponsored by Senator Demint (know as the "Semper Fi Act of 2008") are:  Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-Oklahoma), John Cornyn (R-Texas), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), and David Vitter (R-Louisiana)

This bill is pretty plain and direct:

The bill would rescind over $2 million in hidden earmarks for Berkeley, California in the 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill, and transfer the funds to the Marine Corps.

And the enthusiasm for ensuring that the actions taken by the City Council are appropriately rewarded is spreading.

U.S. Congressman John Campbell (R-California) is introducing a companion bill in the House of Representatives.

The press release (with quotes from each of the co-sponsors) is here.

Note to the City Council in Berzerkeley; Be careful what you wish for...  And be more careful what you open your pie-hole about.

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Berkeley Update: Oh How they stepped in it...

This is truly the continuously unfolding story...

As six Republican senators devised a plan to yank $2.3 million in federal funding for Berkeley programs, the mayor of the famously liberal city apologized Wednesday for his hard stance against a Marine recruiting center.

Two City Council members vowed to soften their stance as well. At their Tuesday council meeting, leaders will discuss scrapping a letter that might be perceived as targeting the center or the Marines. The letter said that the recruiting center was not welcome on Shattuck Avenue and that the Marines were uninvited and unwelcome intruders.

"That letter will probably be pulled back and maybe more moderate language will be put in place which is appropriate I think," (that doesn't sound like an apology to me) said Berkeley mayor Tom Bates. "Subtly stated in the resolution is perhaps an impugning of the soldiers fighting for us in Iraq and other places," Berkeley City Councilman Laurie Capitelli. "And that was never the intention but that really needs to be cleared up. As I walked to my car that night I realized I regretted it and I had made a mistake."

So, of course, this did not surprise me.

Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Barbara Lee said they plan to fight the Republican bill.

The Co-sponsors of the bill sponsored by Senator Demint (know as the "Semper Fi Act of 2008") are:  Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-Oklahoma), John Cornyn (R-Texas), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), and David Vitter (R-Louisiana)

This bill is pretty plain and direct:

The bill would rescind over $2 million in hidden earmarks for Berkeley, California in the 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill, and transfer the funds to the Marine Corps.

And the enthusiasm for ensuring that the actions taken by the City Council are appropriately rewarded is spreading.

U.S. Congressman John Campbell (R-California) is introducing a companion bill in the House of Representatives.

The press release (with quotes from each of the co-sponsors) is here.

Note to the City Council in Berzerkeley; Be careful what you wish for...  And be more careful what you open your pie-hole about.

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