News
Mississippi: Voter ID initiative will be on ballot
Petitioners gathered more than enough signatures to put a voter ID initiative on Mississippi’s November 2011 ballot that will include candidates for governor and other offices, the state’s top elections official said Monday. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said his office had determined 131,678 signatures of registered voters were collected. That’s significantly more than the minimum 89,285 needed. Republican organizers, led by Sen. Joey Fillingane of Petal, spent about a year collecting signatures and submitted them in February.
California: Greenhouse gas law will be subject of initiative
Monday morning’s “AirTalk” featured a debate on the greenhouse gas emissions rollback (AB 32) signed into law four years ago. AB 32’s supporters claim it will not only set an example for the rest of country, but spur the in-state development of green technologies that could create jobs and expand our local economic base. However, opponents of the measure are gathering signatures for a November initiative that would shelve AB 32 until unemployment drops below 5.5-percent for four consecutive quarters.
California: Local government protection initiative could be on statewide ballot
Proponents of a California ballot initiative that would end state raids of city, redevelopment and transit money predict they will collect sufficient signatures well ahead of a May deadline. “It’s the most popular initiative on the street,” said Chris McKenzie, executive director of League of California Cities. “It leads with the three most popular three words in California, ‘Prohibits the state … .’” The Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 would strip the state of access to all tax dollars earmarked for local non-education agencies.
Florida: Debate will increase over hometown democracy measure
Expect debate over Amendment 4 to help heat up Florida’s already-hot summer. The amendment will be on the ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 2. If approved by a 60-percent majority statewide, the constitutional amendment will allow Floridians to veto changes to their community-growth master plans that have been approved by local officials.
North Dakota: Initiative making officials read bills before passing still in the works
A proposed North Dakota ballot measure that requires state lawmakers to read bills before they vote on them will be turned in to the secretary of state on Tuesday. Jerrol LeBaron has been promoting the measure, and he says retired Bismarck businessman Dave Wolfer has agreed to be chairman of the initiative’s sponsoring committee. The measure says lawmakers have to certify that they’ve read a bill before they vote to approve it. Finished versions of bills also have to be posted on the Internet for at least four days before there’s a final vote.
Arkansas: Petition signatures gathered for wet-dry issue in Arkansas county
The push to get the wet-dry issue on Boone County’s ballot was on in Harrison. Petitioners worked throughout the weekend to gather additional signatures. “I think people should be able to vote. That’s what we are all about is voting, right,” said one person signing a petition. The Buhr family quickly signed, saying Harrison’s economy would flourish if tax dollars weren’t being spent elsewhere.
Colorado: UFO initiative gets rap theme song
It is not every ballot initiative that has its own hip-hop song. But then, how many times are voters asked to approve formation of a commission to study visitors from outer space? Jeff Peckman, director of the extraterrestrial affairs commission ballot initiative, will launch a campaign to educate voters about his proposal this evening at 7 P.M. at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Peckman collected signatures to have the measure placed on Denver’s Aug. 10 ballot.
Utah: Ethics initiative supporters want Governor to veto new initiative bill
Supporters of a citizens ethics-reform initiative contacted Gov. Gary Herbert Thursday, urging him to veto a signature-removal bill that could be used to undermine their petition drive. Utahns for Ethical Government have until April 15 to get the necessary 95,000 valid voter signatures to get its measure on November’s ballot. Sen. Howard Stephenson’s SB275 eliminates the need for regretful signers to get notorized statements to remove their names from petitions. It also gives opponents of UEG’s initiative until May 15 to persuade people they signed in error.
California: Pension reform measure dead, but issue taken up by candidates
Tapping in to public outrage over gold-plated public employee pensions, the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility filed two reform initiatives with the state Attorney General’s office in November, and was ready to rumble. But now – just a few months later – the foundation has suspended efforts to qualify the measure for the ballot. Not because the need to reform California’s pension system is any less dire.
California: City urban limit measure will be on June ballot
Proponents of an initiative that would establish Brentwood’s own urban limit line have gathered enough signatures to get the issue on the June ballot. The county elections division confirmed this week that the measure’s backers turned in 5,244 valid signatures, well more than the 3,624 needed to hold a citywide election. Election rules require that petitioners garner the support of at least 15 percent of Brentwood’s registered voters.