Property Tax

It turns out that in this town, your luck can change in 20 minutes.

All systems seemed to be go for a Nevada ballot initiative that would have imposed Prop 13-style restrictions on tax increases in the Silver State. The sponsor, a Republican candidate for state senate, was so high on it that newspapers reported that it appeared to have the signatures. Turn-in began, but for some reason, they didn't get to the clerk's office in Clark County until 20 minutes (5:20 p.m.) after the deadline Tuesday. They tried to come back Tuesday, but had photocopies rather than originals of signatures. That's a big no-no. And likely the end of the sponsor's campaign.

Get used to it. Most of the country's blockbuster democracy news is coming from the Centennial State. A bit of news from California and elsewhere appears at the bottom of this post.

 COLORADO PEACE: It appears that there's been a cooling on one front of the all-out initiative war in Colorado. The trial lawyers and the sponsor of an initiative to limit contigency fees are putting their swords away. The contigency fee initiative -- and 9 counter initiatives filed by the lawyers -- have been dropped. Hat tip: Point of Law.  according to the Point of Law legal blog.

DENVER ET COMMISSION GETS A HEARING: Its sponsor says there's evidence that aliens -- and he doesn't mean Mexicans, Mr. Tancredo -- are already among us. At the hearing, concern is expressed about the commission's cost -- $75,000 -- and how easy it is to qualify the measure (only 3,900 signatures) and of course, about what late night comics might say. Learn more about the Extra campaign as its new web site.