Bush Administration Supports Acquisition of Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Gail Heriot

Here’s news for San Diego and the never-ending battle over the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial.  The White House released the following statement of policy today concerning H.R. 5683:

“The Administration strongly supports passage of H.R. 5683 to protect the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego.  In the face of legal action threatening the continued existence of the current Memorial, the people of San Diego have clearly expressed their desire to keep the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in its present form.  Judicial activism should not stand in the way of the people, and the Administration commends Rep. Hunter for his efforts in introducing this bill. The bill would preserve the Mount Soledad Memorial by vesting title to the Memorial in the Federal government and providing that it be administered by the Secretary of Defense.  The Administration supports the important goal of preserving the integrity of war memorials.”

Update:  H.R. 5683 passed today by a vote of 349 to 74.  Among the “no” votes were San Diego members Bob Filner and Susan Davis.