The November 2008 general election is still, well, a long time away, but Bill Sizemore has already dropped off signatures for two of his initiative petitions, Numbers 3 and 19.

Initiative Petition 3 should sound familiar; it “Creates An Unlimited Deduction For Federal Income Taxes On Individual Taxpayers’ Oregon Income-Tax Returns.” Short story, it’s a way of paying less in state taxes, and if there’s one thing we know about state revenue from the success of our schools, police, and transportation infrastructure, it’s that the state has way too much money on its hands. Sizemore filed 119,570 signatures—he needs 82,769 valid sigs.

Initiative Petition 19, though, may be news to you, but the sentiment sure won’t be. It’s the “English Immersion” bill, which would forbid students in Oregon public schools from being taught in any language other than English for more than two years. After that, it’s all English all the time. Foreign language students who enter public school between kindergarten and 4th grade only get one year to learn English, 5th through 8th grade they get a year and a half. Sizemore dropped off 122,818 signatures for that one.

Think we’ll be discussing that at Debate Club tonight at rontoms (600 E Burnside, 7pm)? Oh hellz yes we will.