Free Republic

SAN FRANCISCO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has championed "direct democracy" since he was swept into office in an extraordinary recall election last year, but he's not the only force in California using voter initiatives as a form of raw political power. Several new measures are likely to appear on the November ballot, forcing Schwarzenegger to keep close watch and use his influence at times to shape major public policy initiatives and have some say over how voters might require the state to spend billions of dollars. The questions that appear to have gathered the necessary signatures by Friday's deadline include...