Propositions

[Ben]

How did you all fare with state propositions?

CA, as expected, passed just about every prop that would increase taxes or create some new restriction. My normal method for voting on propositions is to vote "no" on everything. Exceptions are any propositions that would increase freedom, reduce restrictions, or lower or kill a tax.

We had a clear case of "human nature" voting this time around. Two school tax propositions. One of them only hit the "wealthy" but went into the general fund and was actually not guaranteed to go to schools. The other one was a sliding scale tax that would affect most wage earners, with those making less being hit with a lesser tax, but everyone having to chip in. It was specifically set aside for schools and education only. It lost by a landslide, while the other passed by a good margin. "Tax thee not me".

[kgbsquirrel]

One minor prop dealing with when certain offices begin their term. One prop affecting campaign contributions. Both passed.

Oh, and weed's now legal in Colorado.

[Ben]

Oh, and weed's now legal in Colorado.

CA had that prop I think one or two cycles ago. It actually lost by a good majority, which was extremely surprising to me. You would have thought we'd be first with that one. But I guess it's all about getting the people that would benefit from it motivated enough to drop the Doritos and head for the polls. 

[MillCreek]

In Washington, we now have gay marriage, recreational marijuana, charter schools and a 2/3 legislative majority to raise taxes.

[Jamisjockey]

I have no doubt the Obama Administrations DOJ will come down handily on those marijuana propositions.  Expect increased enforcement and prosocution.

[AZRedhawk44]

In Washington, we now have gay marriage, recreational marijuana, charter schools and a 2/3 legislative majority to raise taxes.

As opposed to 50% + 1?  Cool.  I like that.

Except from what I remember of Washington, Dems have 67% control just about all the time anyways.

[Chuck Dye]

CA had that prop I think one or two cycles ago. It actually lost by a good majority, which was extremely surprising to me. You would have thought we'd be first with that one. But I guess it's all about getting the people that would benefit from it motivated enough to drop the Doritos and head for the polls.  

CAMP-Campaign Against Marijuana Planting is called government price support by many in Humboldt County.  Self interest voting?

[kgbsquirrel]

Oh, and it wasn't just a regular state law saying MJ is legal here, it was a State Constitutional Amendment.

[Balog]

In Washington, we now have gay marriage, recreational marijuana, charter schools and a 2/3 legislative majority to raise taxes.

Yup, although:

same sex couples already had the same legal rights in WA as hetero couples, so this is naked social engineering via threat of .gov force. Folks point out that it currently has protection for religious bodies refusing to recognize these relationships as marriages. I point out that when the bill passed granting all legal rights to gay couples straight ones have it was promised up and down that they'd not force it through later as "marriage."

The recreational MJ bill is a travesty. A producer has to sell it to a wholesaler who has to sell it to a retailer. There is a %25 tax at each step and producers and wholesalers can't have any financial interest in retailers. Etc etc. Horrific bit of law, even if I agree with the stated objective. Be fun to watch the hyper-liberal state .gov critters get pounded by Obama. They'll be like a faithful puppy who's master kicks them.

Charter schools and 2/3 for taxes I like.

[RoadKingLarry]

Oklahoma passed 2 measures to restrict taxes, one that will cap property tax increase to 3% a year and one that will prohibit taxes on intangible property such as logos, brand names and professional licenses. The education lobby was dead set against both of them, that was good enough for me. Tulsa also defeated a measure to "extend" a sales tax for city wide improvements that would have mostly benefited a few large corporations by way of building/facility and infrastructure improvements.

[Jamisjockey]

Oh, and it wasn't just a regular state law saying MJ is legal here, it was a State Constitutional Amendment.

You're in CO, right?
Funny I just applied for a job up there.  My brother is a pothead libertarian and lives in COS.

[HankB]

Travis County, TX, passed a proposition to increase property taxes for a new medical school. Argument was that it would bring in about 2 billion dollars in economic development. (Hmmm . . . if it's so profitable, why are taxes going up to subsidize it?)

The City of Austin (which covers a good part of Travis County) approved half a dozen bond proposals totaling about $385,000,000, dealing with water shed protection, land acquisition, the Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Departments, Health and Human Services and libraries, museums and cultural arts facilities. A proposal for housing assistance and shelters for bums the homeless failed.

Austin voters also approved a city proposal that lets most city employees officially become Civil Service employees.   

[Fly320s]

NH had three ballot initiatives:

1. Amend the state constitution to prohibit income tax.
2. Amend the constitution to allow the legislature to have oversight of the state court system.
3. "Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?" This question is required to be asked every 10 years.

All the initiatives failed.

[lupinus]

SC had a pretty boring ballot this go around. Only thing on there was a state constitutional amendment changing the way we elect our Lt. Governor. Currently the candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor are on separate tickets, the amendment would change that to candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor to run on the same ticket, effective 2018.

Real exciting and world changing amendment right there. It passed.

[drewtam]

The Illinois Public Pension Amendment will appear on the November 6, 2012 ballot in Illinois as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. If passed, the measure would require a three-fifths approval by the General Assembly, city councils, and school districts that wish to increase the pension benefits of their employees. The measure is sponsored by Representative Michael Madigan.

Yes   2,213,269   55.9%
No   1,748,601   44.1%

[lee n. field]

How did you all fare with state propositions?

State, constitutional ammendment to monkey with pensions.  I don't know how that came out.

The one hopeful sign I see in this state is, every one of the county wide "constitutional carry of arms" referenda, passed quite handily.  69% favoring, and up.

I think our town hall meetings paid off!


Right to Carry referendums passed in:

Henry Co. 73% yes
Stephenson Co. 69% yes
Mercer Co. 78% yes
Warren Co. 73%
McDonough Co. 68% yes
Adams Co. 77% yes
Schuyler Co. 81% yes
Randolph Co. 76% yes

Bond - 78% yes
Rock Island - 57% yes

based on unofficial vote totals after 100% precincts reporting in each county.

They don't actually do anything, unfortunately.  Preemption only goes one way.


Other than that, hunker down.

[DustinD]

In Minnesota:

Anti gay marriage amendment failed.
Voter ID requirement failed.

[Monkeyleg]

We had 11 referendum (referenda?) questions for amending the state constitution. One, which passed, would prohibit the federal government from forcing citizens to pay for health care. It probably wouldn't survive a court challenge, though.

Another pegged increases in legislators' pay to the average increase in private sector wages.

Another was to allocate money from the treasury to attract new business to the state. They did this before with good success.