NEVADA GETS AN 'F' FOR HIDING INITIATIVE SOURCES

CARSON CITY -- A national organization has awarded the Nevada secretary of
state's office an "F" grade for its failure to let the public know who is
really behind ballot initiatives, including those to legalize marijuana and
prohibit same-sex marriages.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based
nonprofit group that counters right-ring influence on ballot measures,
handed out poor grades today to Nevada and 16 other states where voters
considered initiatives placed on the ballot by petitions. Four states,
including California, received "A" or "B" grades. People can circulate
petitions to put initiatives on ballots in 24 states.

"Nevada is treating candidate disclosure and ballot measure disclosure
differently, and the losers are Nevada voters," said Galen Nelson, author
of the report and director of Ballotfunding.org.

Paul Brown, Southern Nevada director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance
of Nevada, said he works with Nelson on projects and agrees Nevada does not
do enough to tell the public who is behind initiative petitions. Eight
questions on the state's November election ballot, including the marijuana
and marriage proposals, were placed on the ballot through initiative petitions.

Susan Bilyeu, the deputy secretary of state for elections, said much of the
criticism from the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation is
warranted, and Nevada by the 2004 election should have Internet listings
that show contributions made to all candidates, to PACs, and to groups
behind initiative petitions.

"This is the only 'F' I have ever received," Bilyeu said. "Absolutely we
want everything on online so everyone can use it."

Bilyeu said she has only a five-member staff, and this fall election marks
the first time the secretary of state's office has had a pilot program
where candidates and PACs voluntarily could place their campaign
contribution and expenditure information on the secretary of state's Web site.

The initial reports are due Aug. 27. There are 1,100 candidates running for
offices in Nevada this year and more than 750 political action committees.

She said groups such as the Citizens for Responsible Law Enforcement are
required to register with her office before they circulate petitions.

They also must turn in a contribution and expenditure report in August.

The group is the Nevada offshoot of the Marijuana Policy Project of
Washington, D.C.

A spokesman for the project said recently that it received donations from
more than 8,000 people.

"It is tough to get full disclosure," Bilyeu added. "People do have free
speech and First Amendment rights."