In The News 
Florida Legislature adjourns, rejecting vote on constitutional amendment banning oil drilling
The Florida House abruptly adjourned a special legislative session after 49 minutes Tuesday, rejecting Gov. Charlie Crist's proposal to let voters place a permanent ban on offshore drilling in the Florida Constitution. The party-line vote to adjourn the session was 67 to 44, with Republicans supporting adjournment and Democrats in favor of continuing the debate. A heckler from the visitors' gallery shouted that all 67 were "in the pocket of BP." The Senate adjourned at 2:20 p.m. with an 18-16 vote.
Latest Eyman initiative makes November ballot
Initiative activist Tim Eyman and his partners will again appear on the Washington state ballot this year. Their Initiative 1053, making it harder for Olympia to raise taxes, cleared its last major hurdle on Monday when the state Elections Division announced that the sponsors submitted enough voter signatures to make the November ballot. I-1053 became the fourth initiative to qualify for the ballot, and two others are widely expected to qualify, too.
3 Ballot issues qualify for fall ballot
Three ballot measures will appear on the November ballot, while eight others failed to muster the necessary signatures, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch said Monday. The measures that qualified, if approved, would prohibit state and local governments from imposing new taxes on real estate transactions, end guaranteed hunting licenses for outfitters and cap interest rates that payday and title loan businesses can charge consumers.
Education ballot initiative pushed
Supporters would like to ask voters in 2011 to fund education Education spending advocates yesterday announced that they will push for a 2011 ballot initiative that would create a steady funding source for P-20 education. The group attempted to persuade lawmakers this year to refer the question to voters, but the measure failed.
State income tax: Voters will decide in November
Should high earners in Washington state pay an income tax? Voters will get their say. The secretary of state's office on Thursday said Initiative 1098 had submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Also Thursday, state officials asked the Washington State Patrol to investigate apparent fraud by a petition-gatherer for I-1098, a measure which seeks to impose an income tax on the wealthy. At issue are about 20 petition sheets with 350 names, signatures and addresses that appear to have been written with the same pen and in similar handwriting, said Dave Ammons, spokesman for the Secretary of State's office.
BP gives big bucks to Eyman initiative
While burdened with Gulf of Mexico cleanup costs, the North American subsidiary of BP found $65,000 to pour into the campaign that put Tim Eyman's Initiative 1053 onto Washington's November ballot. BP is the third big oil company to underwrite the campaign for I-1053, which would require a supermajority legislative vote to raise taxes.
Suit seeks to block Miss. ‘personhood’ initiative
Opponents have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a Mississippi "personhood" initiative that would define life as beginning at conception. The proposed constitutional amendment is set to be on the November 2011 statewide ballot.
Secretary Reed certifies I-1082 for the ballot
Secretary of State Sam Reed certified a second initiative Tuesday for the Nov. 2 ballot. Initiative 1082 is the Building Industry Association of Washington’s proposal to let private insurers sell workers compensation policies to businesses, and it has endorsements from an array of business interests. The measure was certified after a check showed it had more than the 241,153 valid voter signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.
Nevada Immigration Ballot Initiative Fails
Nevada will not pass an immigration law similar to the one taking effect this month in Arizona, at least not in the immediate future. A move to have the issue placed on the 2012 ballot was pronounced dead Tuesday, according to a spokesman for state Assemblyman Chad Christensen, who championed the initiative. Christensen, who recently failed in his bid to secure the GOP Senate nomination, said Nevada needed a similar law to ease what he called a tax burden created by illegal immigrants.
Liquor privatization certified for ballot
Secretary of State Sam Reed has certified one of two liquor privatization measures to the ballot. Initiative 1100 was certified Monday. Supporters turned in more than 390,000 voter signatures, well above the 241,000 required. A random check of signatures was completed Friday. If I-1100 passes, the state distribution and sales system would be abolished in favor of private businesses.
