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vettecatThis is kind of interesting... a group is collecting signatures to try and put an initiative on the 2006 ballot that would prevent state National Guard troops from being deployed without the consent of the state legislature. I'm not sure if I'm going to be anywhere I can collect signatures, but if you're interested, here are the details:
Help put Iraq on the ballot next November by collecting signatures for an important ballot measure to stop the future deployment of the Massachusetts National Guard to Iraq. Sponsors need to collect 100,000 petition signatures by Nov. 18. Click below to download the petition (Adobe PDF) and get started.
A grassroots group in Massachusetts, HomeFromIraqNow.org, has come up with a clever way to help make next year's election a referendum on the Iraq war. The group is running an innovative ballot initiative drive in Massachusetts that will withhold the future deployment of Massachusetts National Guard Troops to Iraq unless the state legislature votes to approve their deployment. This is an important way to send a signal to our leaders that the American public knows that the best way to support our troops is to bring them home.
To get the initiative on the ballot for November 2006, they need to collect 100,000 signatures of Massachusetts voters by November 18. They're about half-way there this week but the deadline looms next week. Will you download the petition document and follow the detailed instructions to submit it on time? Click below to get started or keep reading for more information.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1142
The initiative, which will be binding, has been ruled constitutional and legally enforceable by the Massachusetts attorney general. This is the exact text of the initiative that was approved by the Attorney General of Massachusetts
Be It Enacted By The People And By Their Authority:
SECTION 1. The governor shall take all necessary steps under G.L. c. 33, s. 39 and all other provisions of law or the Constitution and issue all necessary orders to bring about the immediate withdrawal of all Massachusetts National Guard troops subject to his authority from Iraq and their return to, or retention within, the Commonwealth.
SECTION 2. Chapter 33 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out Section 39 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:
Section 39. Use of militia outside the commonwealth
Except as authorized by law enacted by the General Court upon recommendation of the governor, no unit of the armed forces of the commonwealth shall be ordered without the limits of the commonwealth or leave the commonwealth for any period or purpose whatever, with military property of the United States or of the commonwealth in its possession or use.
-----
If the measure passes, the governor is required to prevent any further deployment of Massachusetts National Guard troops to Iraq, and to use all legal means available under state and federal law to fight for the recall of all Massachusetts National Guard troops currently in Iraq. The governor would not be able to deploy the National Guard to any foreign destination without approval of the state legislature. If enough signatures are collected the measure will appear on the ballot one year from now—next November.
A "yes" vote on this initiative will not only prevent more National Guard troops from being deployed to Iraq, but will also send a very strong message to our elected leaders that we want them to end the war and bring all of our troops home. In effect, the ballot initiative tells our political leaders "If you don't end this war, we will end it ourselves at the ballot box on Election Day."
Because of legal requirements in Massachusetts, signatures need to be submitted on petition forms printed in a specific way. Fortunately, the local group has put together easy-to-understand directions. Click below to download a PDF file containing the double sided petition plus a simple guide to printing it and filling it out.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1142
Just print it (as specified), sign it, ask family and friends to sign it and mail it to "Petition C, Box 431, Brookline, MA 02446-0004." Petitions must be received through the mail by November 18 in order to be filed on time.
This simple step can make a big difference in sending a message that the American people want better answers on Iraq—we want a plan to bring our troops home.
Thanks for all you do.
P.S. Here is some more information about collecting petition signatures.
Collecting signatures to get an initiative on the ballot is easy—anyone can do it. But it's important to do it correctly. Signatures that are not collected correctly will be rejected by the Secretary of State and will not count toward the goal.
If you don't have time to collect signatures, you can download the petition, print it, sign it (and get any of your friends or family who are registered Massachusetts voters to sign it as well) and then send it in. The address is listed below.
Two important guidelines to collecting valid signatures:
1. The petition must be printed double-sided on single sheet of paper.
The petition is two pages long and must be reproduced double-sided on a single sheet of white letter-sized paper. Signatures on single-sided sheets will be rejected. Petitions with smudges or printing problems will be rejected.
2. Each petition sheet can be signed by voters from only one city or town.
Signatures must be certified by city or town election officials, and each sheet will only be sent to one city or town.
The Secretary of State will only accept as valid signatures that meet these guidelines.
You can also download a guide to petitioning,
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1143
A guide to where to collect signatures,
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1144
A guide to petitioner's rights,
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1145
Information sheet about the campaign
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1146
Send your collected signatures to this address so they are received by November 18, 2005
HomeFromIraqNow.org
Petition C
PO Box 431
Brookline MA 02446-0004
Help put Iraq on the ballot next November by collecting signatures for an important ballot measure to stop the future deployment of the Massachusetts National Guard to Iraq. Sponsors need to collect 100,000 petition signatures by Nov. 18. Click below to download the petition (Adobe PDF) and get started.
A grassroots group in Massachusetts, HomeFromIraqNow.org, has come up with a clever way to help make next year's election a referendum on the Iraq war. The group is running an innovative ballot initiative drive in Massachusetts that will withhold the future deployment of Massachusetts National Guard Troops to Iraq unless the state legislature votes to approve their deployment. This is an important way to send a signal to our leaders that the American public knows that the best way to support our troops is to bring them home.
To get the initiative on the ballot for November 2006, they need to collect 100,000 signatures of Massachusetts voters by November 18. They're about half-way there this week but the deadline looms next week. Will you download the petition document and follow the detailed instructions to submit it on time? Click below to get started or keep reading for more information.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1142
The initiative, which will be binding, has been ruled constitutional and legally enforceable by the Massachusetts attorney general. This is the exact text of the initiative that was approved by the Attorney General of Massachusetts
Be It Enacted By The People And By Their Authority:
SECTION 1. The governor shall take all necessary steps under G.L. c. 33, s. 39 and all other provisions of law or the Constitution and issue all necessary orders to bring about the immediate withdrawal of all Massachusetts National Guard troops subject to his authority from Iraq and their return to, or retention within, the Commonwealth.
SECTION 2. Chapter 33 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out Section 39 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:
Section 39. Use of militia outside the commonwealth
Except as authorized by law enacted by the General Court upon recommendation of the governor, no unit of the armed forces of the commonwealth shall be ordered without the limits of the commonwealth or leave the commonwealth for any period or purpose whatever, with military property of the United States or of the commonwealth in its possession or use.
-----
If the measure passes, the governor is required to prevent any further deployment of Massachusetts National Guard troops to Iraq, and to use all legal means available under state and federal law to fight for the recall of all Massachusetts National Guard troops currently in Iraq. The governor would not be able to deploy the National Guard to any foreign destination without approval of the state legislature. If enough signatures are collected the measure will appear on the ballot one year from now—next November.
A "yes" vote on this initiative will not only prevent more National Guard troops from being deployed to Iraq, but will also send a very strong message to our elected leaders that we want them to end the war and bring all of our troops home. In effect, the ballot initiative tells our political leaders "If you don't end this war, we will end it ourselves at the ballot box on Election Day."
Because of legal requirements in Massachusetts, signatures need to be submitted on petition forms printed in a specific way. Fortunately, the local group has put together easy-to-understand directions. Click below to download a PDF file containing the double sided petition plus a simple guide to printing it and filling it out.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1142
Just print it (as specified), sign it, ask family and friends to sign it and mail it to "Petition C, Box 431, Brookline, MA 02446-0004." Petitions must be received through the mail by November 18 in order to be filed on time.
This simple step can make a big difference in sending a message that the American people want better answers on Iraq—we want a plan to bring our troops home.
Thanks for all you do.
P.S. Here is some more information about collecting petition signatures.
Collecting signatures to get an initiative on the ballot is easy—anyone can do it. But it's important to do it correctly. Signatures that are not collected correctly will be rejected by the Secretary of State and will not count toward the goal.
If you don't have time to collect signatures, you can download the petition, print it, sign it (and get any of your friends or family who are registered Massachusetts voters to sign it as well) and then send it in. The address is listed below.
Two important guidelines to collecting valid signatures:
1. The petition must be printed double-sided on single sheet of paper.
The petition is two pages long and must be reproduced double-sided on a single sheet of white letter-sized paper. Signatures on single-sided sheets will be rejected. Petitions with smudges or printing problems will be rejected.
2. Each petition sheet can be signed by voters from only one city or town.
Signatures must be certified by city or town election officials, and each sheet will only be sent to one city or town.
The Secretary of State will only accept as valid signatures that meet these guidelines.
You can also download a guide to petitioning,
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1143
A guide to where to collect signatures,
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1144
A guide to petitioner's rights,
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1145
Information sheet about the campaign
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1146
Send your collected signatures to this address so they are received by November 18, 2005
HomeFromIraqNow.org
Petition C
PO Box 431
Brookline MA 02446-0004
