Gale urges courtesy in petition process (Ne)

[Omaha Steve]

I usually sign every petition that comes along. Not this year. The paid circulars are lying about the results of two of these should they get on the ballot and the voters pass it. One is called the Terri Schindler Schiavo petition from pro life types. The other is the tax limit bill. The Lincoln local of my union is fighting that petition as mentioned in the article.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2197181

Published Wednesday
June 28, 2006

Gale urges courtesy in petition process

BY ROBYNN TYSVER


WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A new phenomenon in the initiative petition process prompted Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale to release guidelines Tuesday for circulators and so-called "petition blockers."

Petition blockers are deployed by opponents of a petition drive to stand near circulators and try to persuade registered voters not to sign the petition.

They are being used for the first time in Nebraska by a coalition of groups opposed to a state spending limit petition.

"With the appearance of opponents of various petitions on the sidewalks and public places in our communities, along with the petition circulators, we have a clash of First Amendment rights," said Gale, the state's top election official.

"Unfortunately, Nebraska citizens are getting caught in the middle and are wondering what is going on," he said.

Gale said open hostility broke out in Nevada this year between blockers and petition circulators.

Gale said open hostility broke out in Nevada this year between blockers and petition circulators.

He said he issued his guidelines, which call on both sides to treat one another with courtesy, to avoid similar tensions in Nebraska as circulators rush to meet a July 7 deadline for submitting signatures.

Nine petitions are being circulated in Nebraska, including a casino gambling proposal and an electronic keno bid. Many of the petition sponsors pay circulators $2 or $2.50 per signature.

One petition, which would place a limit on state spending, has drawn opposition from a coalition of Nebraska groups. The coalition, which includes the teachers and public employees' unions, has deployed volunteers and paid petition blockers to stand near circulators and hand out fliers.

"We fully intend to abide by these guidelines and have been abiding by these guidelines," said Devorah Lanner, a spokeswoman for Nebraskans for the Good Life.

Mike Groene, a spokesman for the Stop Over Spending initiative, said Gale's guidelines already were being followed by his group's circulators.

"It's common sense and etiquette that he's talking about," Groene said.

Gale said his guidelines are based on a Nevada court order, which was issued after petitioners filed for a restraining order against petition blockers.

The guidelines urge circulators and blockers not to yell at each other, not to use bullhorns, not to touch each other or each other's personal property, and not to flood an area with people to physically obstruct pedestrian traffic to achieve their goals.

He also urged circulators and blockers not to talk over each other.

"Common courtesy should prevail at each location. This means that a circulator should be allowed to read the object statement (of the petition) or the blocker should be allowed to deliver the "stop, think and read" message without interruption and answer any questions," Gale said.