Backers of the Top Two primary in Oregon submitted more signatures to the secretary of state there today, likely assuring its place on the November ballot.

The initiative would create a top two primary similar to Washington's new law. One difference would be that if a candidate is endorsed by a political party, that information will be included on the Oregon ballot along with the candidate's own stated party preference. Party endorsements are not mentioned on Washington's ballot.

Still, the two candidates with the most votes – regardless of party – would advance to the general election.

The sponsor of the Oregon measure is Phil Keisling who served as secretary of state from 1991 to 1999. Oregon now has a closed primary and party registration. As such, voters get the ballot of the party for which they registered. Only that party's candidates will appear on the primary ballot.

Washington approved its top two primary in 2004 but it was held up by a lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Washington's law earlier this year, which should make it more difficult for Oregon's parties to argue that the initiative in unconstitutional.

Here's what Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, has to say about the Sonics settlement. Murray, a member of the task force to meet this summer on King County local taxes, said he hasn't read the settlement but has been briefed.

"My concern is that some of the sources we're looking at give me puase. An example would be the convention center and some of the funding that would come out of the money that we're getting out of the convention center... I think we need to look at renovating and expanding the convention center before we talk about diverting that money into KeyArena."

He said the Legislature wasn't involved in the deal-making. "That wouldn't be appropriate."

"We have time now to look at our options through this task force. Again, I think we need to be very cautious about where we get the money so that we don't hurt other needed projects or tax sources."

"I'm not saying we won't act, but I think we need to be deliberative. We have time ... using public money for the use of sports facilities is very controversial and I think we need to be very careful."

On whether the less-than-optimistic revenue forecasts have any effect on this, he said, "It's certainly something we have to take into consideration."

Update 2:37 p.m.: I just talked to Rep. Ross Hunter, who's also on the task force. Here's what he had to say after reading the settlement:

"It's very vague and it's intended to be vague," he said. "They want the state to take some action that makes $75 million available to this. Obviously we could just give them $75 million, which is unlikely – heavily unlikely. Or we could allow the city to shift funds from one account to another."

That fund-shifting is in reference to a pool of unused money from the Seattle hotel-motel tax that pays for the convention center. While Murray didn't seem hot on the idea, Hunter described it as excess money that could be used without affecting the convention center's future.

"If it's in Seattle's best interest to remodel KeyArena and attract a professional basketball tenant, that would be a reasonable basis."

He said projected budget shortfalls and decreasing revenue forecasts could have an effect on the political wrangling. "We have a number of things that are more important than dealing with this problem."

He said he's a skeptic on the idea of subsidizing sports teams. "It's just not attractive to me. I don't think that's what we're doing here."

"If the basis is, we want to spend taxpayer dollars to subsidize players' salaries, then no."

It should be noted that neither House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, nor Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, are willing to talk today. (Brown did issue a statement yesterday, though.)

Here's a copy of the Sonics settlement.

And here's a copy of some of the statements from the involved parties.

I'm working on a follow-up with legislators. Look for their comments soon.

Update 12:23 p.m.: I've realized (thanks to Rep. Ross Hunter) that our settlement is missing page 2. I'm working on it and will re-post.

Update 12:55 p.m.:Fixed.