Health care proposal may not be on Nov. 4 ballot

Arizona voters may not get a chance to decide if they want to constitutionally block universal health care.

Controversial measure aims to prevent universal health care

Campaign begins for universal health care

Deputy Secretary of State Kevin Tyne said Thursday that a random check of the signatures submitted for what is supposed to be Proposition 101 showed that it does not have the 230,047 valid names necessary to qualify for the Nov. 4 ballot.

In fact, Tyne said, the sample showed the measure, dubbed Medical Choice for Arizona, would not even hit 95 percent - the point at which it would be entitled to force county recorders to check each and every signature.

But Jeff Singer, one of the organizers, said he believes the count is wrong.

"There are a lot more signatures that we believe are valid," he said. Singer said his group has already hired a lawyer and intends to file suit today.

"We're going to ask them to take a look at it."

The initiative would constitutionally prohibit forced enrollment in either private or government-run health insurance programs. And it would bar enactment of any state law that limits an individual's choice of doctors.

Tyne said the results of a random check of the signatures of another measure Thursday show it has more than enough to qualify for the ballot.

Proposition 202 would undo some of the provisions of the employer sanctions law approved last year by state lawmakers.

The measure, dubbed Stop Illegal Hiring, contains the same penalties as the state law which took effect Jan. 1. It allows a judge to suspend all state licenses of any firm found to have knowingly hired an undocumented worker; a second violation within three years results in license revocation.

But this version would require prosecutors to prove that the owner or an officer of the company have "actual knowledge" that a worker is here illegally.

It also would provide absolute immunity to firms that either use the federal E-Verify system or simply comply with existing federal laws about checking the identity of new workers.

That law requires only that employers attest on the I-9 form that the applicant "is eligible to work in the United States," and, if documents have been presented, that they have been examined and "appear to be genuine and relate to the individual."

The Secretary of State's Office has already determined there are sufficient signatures on Proposition 200, a measure sponsored by the payday loan industry to ask voters to keep their businesses legal beyond 2010.

And Proposition 102 which would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage, is qualified for the ballot by virtue of being put there by the Legislature.