THIRD FRONTIER... NEW STATE ROLE IN BUSINESS? I know there was a PD article about this, but if it didn't lead you to take a look at the new Policy Matters analysis of State Issue 1 and what it means, go do so now. Don't just look at the Executive Summary, download the whole thing -- it's worth the effort.

The press spokesman for the report (thus, I assume, a major contributor) is Zach Schiller, the former PD and Business Week reporter, now Policy Matters Research Director. (If I recall correctly, Zach's byline was on the PD's very first "Quiet Crisis" article).

The report is neutral on passing Issue 1 this November, but points out that this constitutional amendment involves a lot more than some bond money for high-tech research and development -- for example, it would allow the state (and maybe local governments as well) to own shares in private corporations for the first time in a century and a half.