Posted on 09/16/2009 2:49:10 PM PDT by Domandred
The Boise City Council passed a controversial health care resolution Tuesday night by a four to three margin. Mayor Dave Bieter passed the deciding vote after listening to more than an hour of public testimony.
Most of that testimony was against the resolution on the national health care crises. Less than a handful sided with the mayor who'd proposed the resolution. "You're not concerning yourself with city Business at all I don't think you guys need to comment on it," one man told the council just before applause broke out inside council chambers.
The resolution reads "The city council of Boise, Idaho supports comprehensive, accessible, affordable, and universal health care for Americans." The resolution passed with some minor wording changed in one of the paragraphs to include tort reform. "We don't have the authority to change health care directly but it's of such fundamental importance we needed to bring a resolution before the council," Mayor Bieter said
A Tea Party Boise rally with several thousand people marched right in front of City Hall Saturday; many held signs say they opposed national health care. The group feels this resolution is a slap in the face of what they and many other Idahoans truly feel. "This is meant to show Washington where Boise stands where Idaho stands and this is not the way we feel at all," Tea Party Boise co-founder Brendon Smythe said. Now the group plans on making their voices heard in the voting booth when council members seek reelection.
The resolution was brought after requests from the National League of Cities, and U.S. Conference of Mayors sent requests to Mayor Bieters office.
It can really be tough on a community but it can be worth it. The basis here was that the councilman had been elected to serve our community interests not make a federal issue (literally) out of our town council. He not only lost re-election but he lost his case regarding separation of church and state in federal court.
Boise is quite familiar with recalls.
We recalled our previous Mayor Brent Coles for using public funds to go to the Salt Lake City Olympics and other things. The process was started by a little old liberal lady that owned a convenience store on the North End and grew from there. With the corruption it was no contest, even the republicans wanted him out. But that led to the current liberal Mayor Dave Bieter being elected in special election.
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