The news story by Philip Ireland, "Morrow shopped forum around before choosing Carlsbad" (Sept. 11), leaves the impression that cost was the primary reason I sued to regain the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center for my Aug. 11 forum on illegal immigration.

But ask yourself, why file a lawsuit where you risk losing, at minimum, $7,000 to $10,000 in attorney fees and court costs when you might have a backup facility for $3,500, including police security?

Had I lost, the lawsuit could have cost more than any amount saved by winning. No, the suit primarily was over the threat to the public's constitutional rights to "peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" (and not just my own free speech rights either).

On his Aug. 5 show, Roger Hedgecock described the "hecklers' veto" and its threat to the people's First Amendment rights. Allowing vocal protesters to intimidate a government forum into silence is an assault on the U.S. Constitution, especially since the state provided property and liability insurance, as always when renting facilities.

So we ran on parallel tracks: one to reclaim Carlsbad for constitutional reasons; the other was to secure a backup facility at the best cost.

We reviewed alternatives and negotiated for San Marcos' community center.

San Marcos' rental fee was lower than Carlsbad's, but the emerging public controversy prompted the San Marcos sheriff's captain to firmly recommend 16 deputies.

Total San Marcos costs were estimated at $3,500, including security ($3,300). The captain said the cost might end up slightly higher if a few deputies stayed late, if necessary, to book a protester or two. They reconfirmed the security cost just two days prior to the forum. All we needed was the Senate Rules Committee's formal approval.

On Aug. 9, we completed contracting preliminaries with San Marcos but had to wait for resolution of the suit against the Carlsbad school superintendent, who relented after his lawyers informed him that he had violated the public's First Amendment rights.

Neither Mayor Bud Lewis nor anyone else ever called me about additional costs before the event —— even after the city decided suddenly to field 150 officers. Not until I arrived at the forum was I informed the city was exceeding the 16-officer/$3,300 security estimate issued by the Sheriff's Department just two days earlier for neighboring San Marcos.

This wasn't law enforcement's fault. They did their jobs —— superbly.

Mayor Lewis should explain why he kept me, the press and the tax-paying public in the dark about the cost explosion until after the event. Now he blames me, but not the pro-illegal protesters or his own mismanagement.

Mayor Lewis contends my forum was a campaign gimmick. Yet, I began working with Congressman Tancredo's office in October 2004, eight months before a congressional vacancy was projected. He must think I'm a psychic.

For those truly concerned about protecting Carlsbad taxpayers, consider this: Illegal immigration costs Californians $12 billion to $18 billion annually. The recent state budget bill totals $117 billion. Ten percent of state spending is tied to illegal immigration.

State Sen. Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside, represents much of North County.