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NEVADA GIVEN "F" GRADE FOR BALLOT MEASURE DISCLOSURE Group Says State Needs to Better Inform Voters By Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Capital Bureau, 07-17-02, P. 5B CARSON CITY - A national organization has awarded the Nevada secretary of state's office an "F" grade for its failure to let the public know who is really behind ballot initiatives, including those to legalize marijuana and prohibit same-sex marriages. The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit group that counters right-wing influence on ballot measures, handed out poor grades today to Nevada and 16 other states where voters considered initiatives placed on the ballot by petitions. Four states, including California, received "A" or "B" grades. People can circulate petitions to put initiatives on ballots in 24 states. "Nevada is treating candidate disclosure differently, and the losers are Nevada voters," said Galen Nelson, author of the report and director of Ballotfunding.org. Paul Brown, Southern Nevada director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, said he works with Nelson on projects and agrees Nevada does not do enough to tell the public who is behind initiative petitions. Eight questions on the states's November election ballot, including the marijuana and marriage proposals, were placed on the ballot through initiative petitions. Susan Bilyeu, the deputy secretary of state for elections, said much of the criticism from the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation is warranted, and Nevada by the 2004 election should have Internet listings that show contributions made to all candidates, to PACs, and to groups behind initiative petitions. "This is the only "F" I have ever received," Bilyeu said. "Absolutely we want everything on online so everyone can use it." Bilyeu said she has only a five-member staff, and this fall election marks the first time the secretary of state's office has had a pilot program where candidates and PACs voluntarily could place their campaign contribution and expenditure information on the secretary of state's Web site. The initial reports are due Aug. 27. There are 1,100 candidates running for offices in Nevada this year and more than 750 political action committees. She said groups such as the Citizens for Responsible Law Enforcement are required to register with her office before they circulate petitions. They also must turn in a contribution and expenditure report in August. The group is the Nevada offshoot of the Marijuana Policy Project of Washington, D.C. A spokesman for the project said recently that it received donations from more than 8,000 people. "It is tough to get full disclosure," Bilyeu added. "People do have free speech and First Amendment rights." WORKING TOGETHER TO ATTAIN FAIRNESS | ||
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