Democrats and other interest groups have already promised to take steps to defeat such a proposal.

Since 1972, heavy lobbying by the industry helped defeat similar proposals three times.

They defeated a proposal to protect those employees and retired workers when their companies go bankrupt.

Only last July, the Senate defeated a similar proposal by a vote of 61 to 39.

But polls suggested the same thing in 1986, shortly before voters defeated a similar proposal.

But it defeated a proposal to eliminate all production funds for the bomber in 1990.

Colorado defeated a proposal that would have required explicit approval from the voters for any state or local tax increase.

Voters in Maine defeated a similar proposal last year.

Town officials said separate referendum elections often attract only the residents who want to defeat a proposal.

He added, "I shared his views and worked closely with him in the effort to defeat a proposal which we both thought was misguided."