Initiatives

CHRIS STROHM
A reporter for CongressDaily
[subscription required] who has been writing about initiatives on the
ballot in Tuesday's election, Strohm said today: "There are initiatives
on a wide variety of issues including Michigan Proposal 2, which would
repeal a ban and allow government funding of stem-cell research, and
Montana Initiative 555, which would give health insurance to all kids
in Montana.

"But perhaps the most far-reaching initiatives in this election have to
do with energy policy. California Proposition 10, mainly financed by a
company owned by Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens, would authorize $5
billion in taxpayer bonds to give consumers rebates for buying vehicles
that run on alternative fuels, primarily natural gas. Critics say the
total cost would be $10 billion with interest. The initiative has heavy
opposition from environmental groups to business associations. They say
it's a giveaway to Pickens' company, Clean Energy Fuels Corp., and
would actually be a setback for alternative fuels.

"Similarly, California Proposition 7 would require all utilities,
including government-owned utilities, to generate 20 percent of their
power from renewable energy by 2010, 40 percent by 2020 and 50 percent
by 2025. It has heavy opposition from environmental, labor and business
groups, who say it is so poorly written that it could in fact be a
major setback.

"In contrast, Missouri Proposition C would require utility companies to
gradually increase their usage of renewable energy annually until 15
percent of the energy used in the state is renewable. Advocates say the
campaign for Proposition C, unlike California Proposition 7, was
organized in a very inclusive manner and therefore has not generated
much opposition. It is expected to pass and advance the cause for
renewable energy."

For further information on initiatives, see: ballotpedia.org.