Re calls to take the compromise rent-control deal before it was too late: On second thought, never mind. … Yes, the state Supreme Judicial Court has struck down the proposed rent-control ballot initiative, the second major referendum proposal rejected by the court in as many weeks. This time it’s not AG Andrea Campbell’s fault per se, though her bumbling office did certify the rent-control measure and she’s now saying she’s “surprised” by the SJC’s ruling, as reported at Boston.com. … Anyway, it appears proponents themselves added a religious exemption to the ballot question’s wording – and that was enough for the high court to nix the initiative on constitutional grounds. Well, good riddance. Rent control is a bad idea, religious exemption or not.

Needless to say, this is a huge win for those in the real estate community who balked at any compromise rent-control deal until after the court had rendered a decision. They stuck to their guns – and won. And needless to say, it’s a huge loss for housing “advocates,” some of whom are now hoping a compromise plan may yet be struck on Beacon Hill, as Banker & Tradesman reports. Forget it. They just lost all their negotiating leverage. There ain’t going to be a compromise deal.

Other passing thoughts — Did rent-control proponents sense this ruling was coming? In retrospect, they seemed awfully eager to strike a compromise deal. … The bigwig developers who negotiated a compromise rent-control agreement don’t look so smart today. Nor for that matter does Hub Blog. But we won’t get into that. … The SJC deserves credit for being consistent with both the tax-cut and rent-control measures: the wording of ballot questions matter. … I guess you can say the business community is now 1-1 when it comes to ballot-question rulings by the high court. …