David Lieb of the Associated Press has an interesting analysis piece [1] this weekend about pending legislation that would reform the initiative petition signature gathering process in Missouri. Lieb describes the bill and also gets reaction from some professional signature gatherers.
Most notably, Lieb tracks down top circulatrix Edee Baggett of National Ballot Access. Baggett, as one would expect from someone with her track record, is less than completely forthcoming about her activity in the state. Lieb reports information provided to him by Baggett this way:
Right now, for example, contractors with National Ballot Access are gathering signatures for three Missouri initiatives — a pair restricting the use of eminent domain to take private property, and another limiting affirmative action programs.
Conveniently, Baggett "forgets" to mention that she and her firm are prepared to begin circulating petitions in connection with another initiative --one which would roll back protections on those seeking cures through stem cell research.
But Baggett --when she was deposed in connection with a petition-related lawsuit in the Missouri courts-- admitted to working with Cures Without Cloning ringleader Jeff Roe and other officials from the Missouri Catholic Conference to run the signature collection effort [1] that would put the repeal of Amendment 2 on the 2008 ballot.If Baggett and National Ballot Access are so careful to avoid explaining the entire truth to the Associated Press, isn't it a real concern that they might be less than truthful in explaining to potential petition signers the nature of the measure onto which they're signing? Given that courts in Michigan found that fraud and deceit was used to gather signatures on a "Civil Rights Initiative" [2] that is identical to one being circulated here by Baggett's company this year, it's hard to see how this is not a legitimate concern.