“This is completely unconscionable,” Campbell said. “Basically what we’re saying here is, ‘OK, if this is what you are going to do, don’t ask taxpayers from all over the country to subsidize you!’ ”
Campbell said he believed Berkeley had every right to pass the bill, but was adamant the federal government also had the right to curb spending for a city passing such resolutions.
“Notice this bill doesn’t say you have to let the Marine Corps in, that’s Berkeley’s business,” he said. “What we’re saying is, if you don’t allow the Marines Corps in your city, then the rest of us won’t foot the bill.”
While Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates was unavailable for comment, his office released a statement on the matter, touting Bates’ status as a retired Army captain and saying the council’s vote was in no way intended to diminish the service and sacrifice of the country’s Marines.
“However, this community strongly opposes the war in Iraq and the foreign policy of the current administration,” he said.
“I believed from the beginning that this was an unjust, illegal and immoral war of choice. I understand that there are people across the country that may not agree with this action, but it is the Berkeley City Council’s responsibility to represent the will of the people of Berkeley.”
Berkeley City Councilman Gordon Wozniak, who voted against the resolution, said he thought the council had made a mistake when it cast its 6-3 vote, but resented what he called “political posturing” by the federal lawmakers.
