The United States State
Department on Tuesday declined to comment on US Ambassador to
Italy John Phillips's statement that a No in Italy's
Constitutional referendum "would be a step backwards for foreign
investments in Italy". Quizzed by ANSA, the State Department
said it "refers (the question) for comment to the United States
embassy in Rome". Phillips' comments spurred claims from
supporters of a No vote, mainly from the centre-right
opposition, that he was meddling in Italian politics. The
government's reform amends the Constitution and, among other
things, turns the Senate into a leaner assembly of
local-government representatives with limited powers to save
money and make passing legislation easier.
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