Newswire
The House on March 23 gave preliminary approval to a trio of measures that would ask voters to lengthen legislative terms, temporarily suspend protections of some spending and give lawmakers control of billions of dollars of federal money. The push for longer legislative terms would make for more effective legislators, said Rep. Andy Tobin, a Republican from Paulden and the sponsor of HCR2017. The measure would change legislative terms from two years to four years, beginning with those lawmakers taking the oath of office in January 2011.
Park Ridge voters could see questions on their November election ballot asking if they are willing to support funding for flood control and a fight against O’Hare Airport. On Monday night 3rd Ward Alderman Don Bach asked that in April the council continue discussion of possible referendum questions related to issuing bonds to complete flood-control projects and funding efforts related to reducing O’Hare noise and traffic.
A group backed by major grocery store chains, restaurants and other retailers launched a drive Tuesday to place on the November ballot two measures to allow alcohol sales in “dry” areas of Dallas. Progress Dallas has 60 days to collect the signatures of 68,846 Dallas voters in order to bring the issue to a vote. The group plans to place petitions in Kroger, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Albertson’s, Whole Foods and restaurants throughout Dallas. If they succeed, the ballot will include two initiatives, each of which could be voted up or down.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian says he’s forming a committee to spearhead a ballot initiative for a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing what he says would be health care freedom. He says he plans to launch the effort Wednesday in Las Vegas, a day after President Barack Obama signed the nearly $1 trillion health care overhaul bill into law, which will for the first time cement insurance coverage as the right of every U.S. citizen.
A drive-through “Signing Tea Party” for a ballot initiative that would bar the state from taking local property, sales and gas taxes netted more than 120 signatures Saturday. Staged by Stanton City Councilman David Shawver, the drive-through petition signing drive was held in front of Stanton’s City hall, allowing those interested to drive-through and sign their names rather than have to get out of their cars. “I figured it’s Southern California and people drive, so why not a drive-through signing,” Shawver said.
A petition with 1,004 signatures on it calling for a vote on UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation is now in the hands of tribal Chairman Charles W. Murphy, the chairman confirmed Monday. Nickname supporters from the tribe, following the earlier example of their compatriots at the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation, produced the petition.
A sour economy and some county government disarray mean a local option sales tax initiative in Oconee County will be put on hold. The Oconee County Council on Monday scheduled a special meeting for March 30 for a first reading of an ordinance to defer the effort, which has been continuing for over a year. The aim was for the council to possibly bring the question of imposing the 1-cent sales tax to Oconee County voters on the November general election ballot.
Schools districts around the state are taking a stand on an initiative that would amend the state constitution to make it much easier to pass new taxes for education. Started in San Mateo County, and with members from around the Bay Area, Californians for Improved School Funding hopes to get the Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act on the state ballot in November. The measure would amend the state constitution by lowering the amount of votes required to pass a school parcel tax from two-thirds to 55 percent. The tax-limiting Prop.
The Maine Senate has passed legislation tightening the ballot initiative process. The measure requires greater disclosure of who is paying for the circulation of petitions for ballot initiatives. It also allows more time for a challenge to a petition. Sen. Bruce Bryant, an Oxford Democrat, supported the measure during floor debate.
A group of activists, legislators and community leaders is launching a petition drive to put a measure on the ballot asking voters whether they want to exempt the state from the federal health care overhaul. State Rep. Tom McMillin was to be joined by Tea Party groups and others this afternoon at a kick-off in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak. Organizers have modeled a proposed amendment to the Michigan constitution on one that will be on Arizona’s ballot later this year.