Initiatives Backed By Children's Hospitals, Paint Industry Set For California's November Ballot

Two new ballot initiatives have cleared the signature-verification hurdle to become eligible to go before voters in November: one backed by children’s hospitals and the other by the paint industry.

The first initiative would raise $1.5 billion through a taxpayer-funded bond measure for construction, expansion, renovation and equipment projects at hospitals that provide children’s health care.

It was written by the California Children’s Hospital Association, and nine of its members have contributed more than $6 million combined.

The second measure comes from lead paint manufacturers.

It would reverse a California appeals court ruling last year that held three companies liable for what could be hundreds of millions of dollars of lead paint cleanup in homes.

And it would authorize a $2 billion bond — at taxpayer expense — to pay for cleanup projects.

The industry is seeking a legislative solution to avoid slugging it out at the ballot box, but it’s not clear whether lawmakers are willing to take the industry’s deal. Under the proposal, the industry would pay for cleanup efforts in exchange for the Legislature overturning the court ruling.