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Council Blocks Nuke Parts Ballot Measure

The Botts Road Honewell defense plant, Construction is more than 1/3 completed.
The Botts Road Honewell defense plant, Construction is more than 1/3 completed.

By Steve Bell

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-983568.mp3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – There'll be no vote on no nukes for a south Kansas City defense plant. The city council has voted not to honor a petition drive by the group "Peace Planters."

The initiative, if passed by the voters, would prohibit the manufacture of nuclear weapons parts at a plant being built for that purpose at Highway 50 and Botts Road. The new facility is to replace the Bannister Road Honeywell plant.

Councilman Ed Ford argued that calling the measure unconstitutional was a stretch, and likely to lead to a court battle and a loss like the one to Clay Chastain 15 years ago.

Ford said it was the council's charter obligation to put the measure on the ballot, and if it passes they could repeal it as they did another Chastain rail plan that voters approved.

Fords colleagues did not agree. They all voted not to put the measure on the ballot.

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