Long-term care initiative challenged in court

By Associated Press

Summary

Opponents of an initiative to boost training for home health-care aides are challenging the measure's misprinted petitions in court.

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Story Published: Jul 22, 2008 at 5:23 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 10:33 PM PST

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Opponents of an initiative to boost training for home health-care aides are challenging the measure's misprinted petitions in court.

Supporters of Washington Initiative 1029 want their measure on the November ballot. But the petitions that voters signed said I-1029 would go to the Legislature first.

Secretary of State Sam Reed accepted the petitions anyway, because all other paperwork showed I-1029 was intended for a statewide vote.

But in a lawsuit filed Tuesday, the opposition campaign asks the state Supreme Court to block I-1029 from the ballot, arguing voters who signed the petitions were misled.

The Service Employees International Union is I-1029's major supporter. A group called the Community Care Coalition is leading the opposition.