PETITION VERIFICATION FOR TWO INITIATIVES DELAYED

CARSON CITY -- A secretary of state's office spokesman said Friday
that two initiative petitions due for final signature verification
would not be finished until Tuesday.

Steve George said some of the rural counties were unable to complete
the check of signatures to determine if the measures qualify for the
November ballot.

Two petitions turned in June 14, to raise funding for public education
to the national average and to increase the minimum wage by $1 an
hour, were expected to have the signature verification process
completed by Friday.

But the education funding initiative is still awaiting results from
Lander, Lyon, Pershing and Storey counties, George said. The minimum
wage proposal is awaiting reports from Lander, Pershing and Storey
counties.

Additionally, there is a question about the verified number of
signatures from Clark County for the minimum wage measure, George
said. Officials were trying to figure out why there is a discrepancy,
he said.

Both measures are expected to qualify for the ballot. The education
funding petition was signed by 108,000 people statewide, more than
twice the 51,337 signatures required.

The minium wage petition was signed by 80,000 people.

A record six initiative petitions to amend the state constitution were
turned in to county clerks in the days leading up to a June 15
deadline. One, requiring the Legislature to fund the education budget
before approving spending by any other state agencies, already has
qualified for the November ballot.

The deadline for signature review for three others, two dealing with
the courts and lawsuits and one legalizing the use of marijuana, is
next Friday.