State spending caps knocked off ballots

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Initiatives to cap state spending, organized in part by Americans for Tax Reform in Washington, have been removed from ballots in four states.

The proposals were removed from the Michigan, Montana, Nevada and Oklahoma ballots after the validity of signatures used to secure the measures' positions was called into question, Stateline.org reported Wednesday.

Organizers have failed to secure places on the ballots in Ohio, Missouri and Rhode Island. However, Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell -- who is the Republican candidate for governor -- said a measure to cap state spending increases would be introduced in the state legislature.

Voters will decide the fate of similar measures in Maine, Nebraska and Oregon.

"We'll be back in all those states," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. He said the measures were removed in the four states due to "annoying technicalities."