CI-97 clones defeated in clean sweep
across the nation

Nov. 8, 2006 - Voters in Maine, Nebraska and Oregon soundly rejected CI-97 clones (so-called "SOS" or "TABOR" initiatives) on election day.

Voters from coast to coast saw through the false promises and rejected this gimmick.

New York real estate developer Howie Rich and his cronies began in 2005 trying to get SOS/TABOR on the ballot, or passed in state legislatures, in more than 25 states. All legislative efforts were defeated.

On the ballot front, petitions were circulated in eight states this year. In five of those states, SOS/TABOR was knocked off the ballot because of fraudulent signature gathering practices (Oklahoma, Missouri, Michigan, Nevada, Montana).

SOS/TABOR made it to the ballot in only three states. And all three states sent a resounding "no."

a) Maine voters defeated TABOR with 55% voting NO, only 45% voting YES.

b) Nebraska voters defeated TABOR with 70% voting NO, only 30% voting YES.

c) Oregon voters defeated TABOR with 71% voting NO, only 29% voting YES.

The out-of-state financiers had big bankrolls, and they used all sorts of tricks, but they never had any real grassroots support. After spending tens of millions of dollars, they have zero victories to show for their investment.

Howie Rich, Grover Norquist, and other SOS/TABOR pushers have publicly said they will try again. But this defeat will certainly give them pause.