An initiative forbidding Kansas City, Missouri from granting any more incentives for facilities involved in any phase of the manufacturing or refurbishing of nuclear weapons will finally go to the voters. But the city council sends it with a disclaimer.
Eleven of the 13 on the council voted for an addition that states their reservations – that if voters pass the ordinance it would cost the city jobs, discourage defense contractors from locating here and be difficult to enforce.
But, as councilman Ed Ford said, the council had no choice but to send the measure to the voters because of a statement the city attorney made months ago. "Under the charter, Ford said, “It takes away the only excuse we have for not putting something on the ballot, that being that it is unconstitutional on its face. We have the opinion of the city attorney that it is constitutional on its face.”
The wording expressing the council's concerns will not be part of the ballot language.
The deadline for the November ballot was last week. The measure goes to the voters in April.
On another matter, the council honored the wishes of members Jan Marcason and Scott Wagner on a proposed billboard registration fee. The question of a fee or tax on billboards goes back to a second committee for more study.
