Las Vegas NowI-Team: Three Initiatives Kicked from the Ballot

I-Team: Three Initiatives Kicked from the Ballot

It's a ruling that is shaking up the fall ballot. Three controversial voter initiatives will not go before voters in November, and now supporters and opponents are speaking out saying the fight is far from over.

It all came down to signatures and whether the people behind the ballot questions followed the rules.

In the complicated and controversial world of courtroom politics, Danny Thompson, head of the Nevada AFL-CIO, says you better do your research, or else you'll lose, "If you didn't follow the rules, I mean, it's not anybody's fault but your own."

Read the Nevada Supreme Court decision

He didn't like what he saw up for debate, "Puts the minority in charge of the majority."

One proposal would have limited potential tax increases to two thirds of the people's vote. Thompson calls that unfair.

The other two would have limited the amount of room tax money given to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. That group runs conventions and promotes the city. The money left over from the cap would go toward schools, roads and public safety.

Thompson calls that a bad idea since upwards of 50-percent of state revenue comes from the gambling cash cow, "If you stop promoting Las Vegas, then ultimately you're going to impact that number."

Former State Treasurer and Assemblyman Bob Seale sees the other side of the fight. He helped coordinate efforts to gather signatures on behalf of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, "It's a good, sound idea."

Seale now says more than 150,000 voters have lost their voice, "They should have their day on the ballot."

Seale feels the state made the rules difficult to follow and hurt instead of helped, "There is no remedy for the citizens for something like this. That is so egregious."

The court struck the questions down not on their merits, but essential because of a technicality. Signature gathering groups couldn't prove who really signed on the dotted line. They also couldn't prove if people had a chance to even read the proposals.

While Thompson feels what's done was right, Seale vows this November or the next, these questions will return.

The LVCVA had no further comment. They move forward with their funding intact. Sheldon Adelson, the man pushing two of the proposals, also had no comment.