PAINT INDUSTRY EYES BALLOT TO END CALIFORNIA VOC EMISSION FEES

Paint industry officials are sponsoring a proposed ballot initiative that could ultimately scrap a California requirement that paint companies pay thousands of dollars in fees for emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) following a judge's ruling against the industry's attempted injunction to halt payment of the fees. An environmentalist warns that the proposal, if successful, could motivate other industries to use similar ballot initiatives to overturn environmental regulations. The industry-drafted initiative will go before voters next June if sponsors get...