Racine voters call for troop withdrawal, reduced health-care costs

By Journal Times staff

Wednesday, November 8, 2006 2:09 AM CST

RACINE - City residents voted in favor of pulling troops out of Iraq and reducing health-care costs in two separate advisory referendums on Tuesday's ballot.

Residents voted in favor of an "orderly and rapid withdrawal of all its military personnel from Iraq." They also supported by a huge margin a call for the Legislature to pass a plan that lowers health care costs 15 percent and guarantees access to universal, affordable health care coverage for Wisconsin residents.

On the war vote, Racine residents join a growing list of Wisconsin communities who have voted against the Iraq war.

In April, 24 of 32 communities in the state voted to withdraw troops from Iraq. Racine was one of 11 communities in Wisconsin to have an Iraq referendum on its Tuesday ballot. Milwaukee voters were also poised to support an "orderly, rapid and humane" withdrawal from Iraq on Tuesday.

On health care, voters passed easily passed a measure that touched on the hot-button political issue of affordable health care. By passing referendums, supporters hope it will encourage, or perhaps pressure, politicians to address the growing number of state residents who do not have health insurance.

Tyson and Patrice Willis both had a lot on their minds as they cast their votes Tuesday evening in Racine.

Patrice, 38, wants to see the state Legislature do something about health care costs. "We need a better Racine. We need something good for a change."

The couple agreed, they were voting for a positive future in Racine, but they thought about state and national issues as well. Tyson, 32, had the military on his mind. "You've got to get them home," he said. "There's no need for them to be over there anymore."

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