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An initiative to lower the legislative vote threshold for passing a budget from two-thirds to a majority vote has qualified for the November ballot.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified the measure today after projections based on a random sample of initiative petitions showed backers of the "On-Time Budget Initiative" turned in enough signatures to meet the valid voter signature requirement for snagging a spot on the ballot.

"Year after year, the state budget is late and legislators are not held accountable. Nine days ago, the legislature failed for the 23rd time in 24 years to submit a budget to the Governor by the June 15 constitutional deadline," Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said in a statement. "If passed, no longer will 14 legislators be able to hold up the budget to satisfy the desires of corporate interests."

The measure is supported by nurses, teachers and other unions. Today is the deadline for measures to qualify for November. Eight have been certified so far.

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