N.D. House Rejects Bill to Honor Bono

Irish singer Bono of pop group U2 arrives at the World Association of Children's Friends gala, in a Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006 photo, in Monaco. Rock singer Bono, who has gained a worldwide reputation for his advocacy of debt relief for Third World countries, wasn't much of a hit in the North Dakota House. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, file) (Lionel Cironneau - AP)

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Bono has plenty of fans. But don't count North Dakota lawmakers among them.

Lawmakers in the House defeated a resolution 58-35 Thursday to honor the U2 frontman for his advocacy of debt relief for Third World countries, saying the Irish rocker had no connection to the state.

Fargo state Rep. Scot Kelsh, who sponsored the measure, said he got the idea for the resolution from a magazine published by the National Conference of State Legislatures, which mentioned that no state at the time had approved a resolution to honor the singer.

"This is something that does matter to us as citizens of North Dakota, the United States, and the world at large," Kelsh said.

Rep. Gil Herbel, a Republican, said he initially thought the resolution referred to Sonny Bono, the former singer, Republican congressman and husband of Cher.

"When I saw the resolution, I was looking for Cher's name in there," Herbel said.