|
|
| |
| Fri, Dec. 5, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Deadline looming for ballot proposal petitions Tuesday, Jun 10, 2008 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - With less than a month to go, supporters of ballot measures are trying to stay positive about their chances of gathering the tens of thousands of valid voter signatures they need in time to qualify for the November general election ballot. Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's proposed constitutional amendment to create a state lottery appears to be the only sure bet to meet the July 7 deadline to submit petitions to the secretary of state's office. Halter declared weeks ago that his Hope for Arkansas campaign had already gathered the 77,486 signatures required and was pushing to total 100,000 by the deadline. The campaign has not said when it would submit its petitions. "Not sure yet," spokesman Bud Jackson said Monday. Halter has said the measure would generate about $100 million annually for college scholarships. Responses from supporters of other proposed ballot initiatives ranged from optimistic to unsure about whether they can secure the requisite number of signatures over the next three-plus weeks. "I think we're going to get the signatures," said Jeannie Burlsworth, chairman of Secure Arkansas, the group pushing a proposed initiated act to largely ban illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits in Arkansas. "As a matter of fact, I'm pretty positive." Initiated act proposals require 61,974 signatures to qualify for the ballot. Jerry Cox, spokesman for the Family Council Action Committee, which is pushing a proposed initiated act that would ban unmarried couples from adopting or serving as foster parents in Arkansas, said last week nearly 37,000 signatures have been collected. "We're about 25,000 signature short and we have less than 30 days to go," Cox said. "I think we're going to make it if our people continue working, but it will be very close." Meanwhile, Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery said he was still hopeful, though the effort he chairs for the Arkansas Sheriffs Association in support of a proposed constitutional amendment to lengthen county sheriffs' terms from two years to four years has gathered about 25,000 signatures - less than a third of the nearly 78,000 necessary to qualify for the November ballot - with time running out. Low voter turnout cut into canvassing during the state primary, and the fact that 33 of the 75 sheriffs were tied up with contested primary races did not help signature-gathering efforts, Montgomery said. "Now that the primary is over, we're getting a lot more feedback," the sheriff said. The immigration initiative would require government agencies at the state, county and city levels to verify the lawful presence in the U.S. of any person 14 or older applying for public benefits. Applicants would be required to swear under penalty of perjury that they are in the country legally. Verification of lawful presence in the country would not be required for emergency medical treatment, immunizations, testing and treatment of communicable diseases, prenatal care or public school enrollment. Gov. Mike Beebe has said the measure would unnecessarily duplicate state and federal laws, but Burlsworth says her proposal has aroused passions among Arkansans opposed to illegal immigration. "This thing has really caught fire," she said. "People have had enough of our tax dollars subsidizing illegal aliens in this state." Montgomery said most people are not even aware that county sheriffs serve just two-year terms. "With two year terms it means the sheriff runs for a year and then campaigns for a year," he said. "It breaks up the continuity of the sheriff's office and management. "They are running all the time." |
