Free Republic

Since Arizona’s local law enforcement began enforcing illegal immigration laws and an employer sanctions law went into effect, illegal immigrants have been fleeing the state in large numbers. The effects have been far-ranging. Commuters are reporting fewer vehicles on the freeways, shortening their rush-hour commutes. What had become a serious transportation problem in Arizona is losing its urgency. English Learner Language (ELL) students started dropping out of school. This helped end a confrontation between the state legislature and a liberal federal judge who had ordered the state to spend more money on ELL classes. Fewer illegal immigrants are using hospital...

Thirteen propositions that have qualified for the Nov. 7 ballot ask voters to authorize billions of dollars in bond issues and new taxes, creating political land mines for the candidates for governor, especially Democrat Phil Angelides. The cumulative weight of the measures could make it more difficult for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sell his ambitious package of public-works bonds. In the June primary election, voters decisively rejected a seemingly routine library bond issue whose price tag was a tiny fraction of what the Republican governor is promoting. The proposed tax increases on the November ballot complicate life for Angelides, the...

LA TIMES set to report that the Redistricting Initiative Backed by the Gov will be disqualified from appearing on the ballot because of discrepancies between what people signed for petitions and what was submitted to Sec of State . . . Leaving Redistricting in the hands of a "Compromise" with the Dems . . . http://politicalvanguard.com/

With Election Day less than seven weeks away, ballots are finally shaping up around the country. The ballot measures database is nearly complete-data is lacking or incomplete from just three states (Maine, Texas and Vermont). Here are the totals so far: 2004 Ballot Measures Measure Type Number Citizen Initiative 59Legislative Referendum 101Popular Referendum 2Other 1TOTAL 163

<p>He was invited to Silicon Valley to hear the concerns of local business leaders. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday wound up winning the support of those executives for the two ballot measures he is touting as the cure for the state's financial woes.</p>