Schwarzenegger vetos Iraq vote

SACRAMENTO, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would have allowed state voters to weigh in on whether U.S. troops should be withdrawn from Iraq.

The bill, SB 924, would have put a non-binding resolution calling for an Iraq pullout on the state's Feb. 5 primary ballot. In his veto message, Schwarzenegger said the issue is divisive and difficult, The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday, and urged voters to show their feelings on the war by voting in the presidential primary.

"There is no louder message Californians can send to Washington on the Iraq war than who should lead our nation," Schwarzenegger wrote. "Placing a non-binding resolution on Iraq on the same ballot, when it carries no weight or authority, would only further divide voters and shift attention from other critical issues that must be addressed."

The bill's author, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, said he was disappointed the governor chose not to allow people to share their opinion on "the biggest issue of this time."

"There is an old saying," he said. "For evil to triumph it just requires good men to do nothing."