More than 300 businesses and 600 facilities are expected today to take part in California's bidding process for credits, as part of the ambitious law AB 32 which set up a cap and trade program designed to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The auction will take place in spite of lawsuit filed yesterday by the California Chamber of Commerce challenging the authority of the auction process as well as raising concerns with the potential costs businesses could incur.

An effort to limit the ability of unions to automatically deduct political contributions from their member's paychecks failed on election day in California. The California secretary of state's website shows that Proposition 32 failed by a significant margin with roughly 56 percent in opposition.  Labor groups funneled over $75 million to defeat the measure backed by business groups that also gave roughly $60 million to support the referendum which would have prevented unions from giving money to candidates or political causes unless the contributions are voluntarily made.

Michigan voters rejected two ballot initiatives that would have amended the state constitution to require utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity by 2025 and another that would grant a all workers in the state constitutionally protected collective bargaining rights and prevent the state from passing "right to work" laws. According to results from the Michigan secretary of state's website, the renewable energy referendum was opposed by nearly 63 percent of voters and the collective bargaining amendment fell by a margin of approximately 58 percent to 42 percent. 

The controversial ballot initiative to amend the state constitution to declare Arizona's "sovereign and exclusive authority and jurisdiction over the air, water, public lands, minerals, wildlife and other natural resources within its boundaries" failed by a wide margin on election day. According to results from the Arizona Secretary of State's website, Proposition 120 was defeated 67.54% to 32.46%. Although five precincts are still outstanding, the 300,000 vote margin of opposition is likely too large for supporters to overcome.

Two high-profile ballot initiatives impacting political funding and collective bargaining rights for unions and public employees will face voters in California and Michigan next Tuesday. Among its many provisions, Proposition 32's most controversial section would prevent unions in California from automatically collecting wages of its members for political purposes. In Michigan, Proposition 12-2 would amend the state's constitution to give public and private employees the constitutional right to organize and bargain collectively through labor unions.