NationStates Jolt Archive

So, I've finally found a source for my state ballot initiatives here in Colorado(the amendments, at least) and so I'll post the results here:

Amendment 46 (Preferential Treatment) No: 51%
87% reporting
Amendment 47 (Mandatory Union) No: 55%
86% reporting
Amendment 48 (Definition of Person) No: 73%
86% reporting
Amendment 49 (Paycheck Deductions) No: 60%
86% reporting
Amendment 50 (Gaming Limits) Yes: 59%
86% reporting
Amendment 51 (Disabilities Services) No: 63%
86% reporting
Amendment 52 (Highways) No: 64%
86% reporting
Amendment 54 (Campaign Contributions) Yes: 52%
86% reporting
Amendment 58 (Oil and Gas) No: 59%
86% reporting
Amendment 59 (Education TABOR) No: 55%

How unfortunate some of these results are. Amendments 51, 58, and 59 were all shot down, despite the fact they were pretty good. 54 seems to be winning when it's a really bad one. (But thankfully the other two paired with it, 47 and 49, are failing.)

But there is good news. 46 and 48 are failing, both of which are good results. 50 is succeeding, a good result. And 52 is failing, also a good result.

So, overall, a mixed bag.

How did yours do?

Connecticut voted against Proposition 1 which would have begun a constitutional convention that(among other issues that I have mixed feelings about) would have made a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage easier to pass.

So despite the dismaying results in California, Florida and Arizona, it's nice that at least some people still believe in the First Amendment, isn't it?

MA had three

Prop 1: Elimination of state income tax (Yes eliminates income tax, no keeps it)
Failed 70-30
Prop 2: Decriminalize marijuana (Yes decriminalizes marijuana, no keeps the current criminal system)
Passed 65-35
Prop 3: Dog Racing (Yes bans dog racing, no allows it to stay)
Passed 56-44

I love how everyone complains about roads and then votes down highway initiatives like they're the plague.

I love how everyone complains about roads and then votes down highway initiatives like they're the plague.

That's why I'm proud of MA...they bitch about schools, police, fire, and roads, but follow through to overwhelmingly keep funding.

1. "Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to amend or revise the Constitution of the State?"
Yea: 100,355 Nay: 157,406

2. "Shall the constitution of the state be amended to permit any person who will have attained the age of eighteen years on or before the day of a regular election to vote in the primary for such regular election?"
Yea: 156,035 Nay: 90,719

So 50/50. At least one made it through.

http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/electionresults/2008_election_results/constitutional_questions_on_the_ballot.pdf

So MA has decriminalized weed?

So MA has decriminalized weed?
Yep. If you are in posession of 1 oz or less, it will now be a $100 fine and you must surrender the weed, effective the new year.

I love how everyone complains about roads and then votes down highway initiatives like they're the plague.

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Colorado_Initiative_120_(2008)

That's what it was about. It basically would cut off a lot of useful programs. There are better sources for highway funds.

In Maryland, an amendment for early voting was approved, though I'm not sure what the percentages were--probably overwhelming.

Slot machines were also approved, 59-41. That was expected but a little disappointing.

Michigan now permits medical marijuana and embryonic stem cell research. Prop one and two both passed and were the only ones on the ballot.

Only one proposition in NY...

The proposed amendment would eliminate the requirement that veterans who were disabled in the actual performance of duty in any war be receiving disability payments from the United State Veterans Administration in order to qualify for additional points on a civil service examination for appointment or promotion. Under the proposed amendment, the disability must only be certified to exist by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The proposed amendment would also update the reference to the "United States Veterans Administration" to instead refer to the "United States Department of Veterans Affairs" to reflect current federal government structure. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

English translation:
This proposition will make it easier for disabled veterans to get promotions.

Only 2 of interest in Arkansas:

Prop 1: A ban on the adoption of children and the placement of children in Foster Homes in which the Foster or adoptive parents co-habitate out of wedlock.

This one passed because people are afraid gays might actually adopt a child (though it applies to unmarried heteros who are shacked up as well).

Prop 8: Create a state lottery. Passed (amazingly).

Michigan now permits medical marijuana and embryonic stem cell research. Prop one and two both passed and were the only ones on the ballot.

Hurrah! I really wish the unicameral group had tried to get on the ballot this year.

Gotta love Nevada:

STATE QUESTION NO. 1

Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended to eliminate an unconstitutional requirement that a person must reside in Nevada for 6 months prior to an election in order to be eligible to vote in that election?
YES 47.41%
NO 52.59%

Yep, Nevada just pretty much said that we're going to keep a section of our constitution unconstitutional, even though said part of the state constitution has already been struck down by SCOTUS and cannot be enforced.

STATE QUESTION NO. 2

Shall Article 1 of the Nevada Constitution be amended in order: to provide that the transfer of property from one private party to another private party is not considered a public use; to provide that property taken for a public use must be valued at its highest and best use; to provide that fair market value in eminent domain proceedings be defined as the "highest price the property would bring on the open market;" and to make certain other changes related to eminent domain proceedings?
YES 60.80%
NO 39.20%

And here we have Kibo fallout, even though the state legislature already fixed it. I just can't wait for the bitching to follow when roads and other public support structures cannot be built because getting the land for it would cost too damn much thanks to this.

STATE QUESTION NO. 3

Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended to require that, before it can enact an exemption from property tax or from sales and use tax, the Nevada Legislature must: (1) make certain findings regarding the social or economic purpose and benefits of the exemption; (2) ensure that similar classes of taxpayers must meet similar requirements for claiming exemptions; and (3) provide a specific date on which the exemption will expire?
YES 60.13%
NO 39.87%

STATE QUESTION NO. 4

Shall the Sales and Use Tax Act of 1955 be amended to authorize the Legislature to amend or repeal any provision of this Act without an additional direct vote of the people whenever necessary to carry out any federal law or interstate agreement for the administration, collection or enforcement of sales and use taxes, and to repeal an exemption from the taxes imposed by this Act on certain aircraft and aircraft components?
YES 26.76%
NO 73.24%

And once again, we of Nevada give a big F-you to Federal law, even though it does trump state law, leading to yet more lawsuits.

Yay lawsuits! Nothing says "F U!" to the Federal Government better than spitting in their faces like that. But as for my state, VA, all quiet here.

Constitutional Measure #1 (http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/North_Dakota_Constitutional_Measure_1_(2008)) - DEFEATED
A concurrent resolution to create and enact a new section to article X (ten) of the Constitution of North Dakota, relating to establishment and use of a permanent oil tax trust fund; and to provide an effective date of 2011

Income Tax Cut (http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/North_Dakota_Income_Tax_Cut_(2008)) - DEFEATED (WTF?)
Would cut corporate income taxes by 15% and personal incomes taxes by 50% for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2008. The initiative would amend sections 57-38-30 and 57-38-30.3 of the North Dakota Century Code.


Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Petition (http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/North_Dakota_Tobacco_Use_Prevention_and_Control_Program_Petition_(2008)) - PASSED
Would establish a tobacco prevention and control advisory committee, develop and fund a statewide tobacco prevention and control plan, and create a tobacco prevention and control trust fund to receive tobacco settlement money

Work Force Safety and Insurance Agency Petition (http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/North_Dakota_Workforce_Safety_and_Insurance_Agency_Initiative_%282008%29) - PASSED
Would appoint a director of the Work Force Safety and Insurance Agency along with transferring all employees and establishing a independent administrative panel of law judges to conduct hearings and make final decisions.

Income Tax Cut (http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/North_Dakota_Income_Tax_Cut_(2008)) - DEFEATED (WTF?)
Some people like to have functional governments, and understand the need to pay for them.

Some people like to have functional governments, and understand the need to pay for them.

No, the reason I said WTF was because ND has a 1.3 Billion dollar surplus and we are wondering wtf to do with the money we have now. To stimulate the ND economy was the reason for this measure since we have more than enough to cover all our operating costs for the next five to ten years.

OK. I thought you were just one of those people who thinks everybody is automatically in favor of tax cuts, always. The one I knew about was in Massachusetts, a proposal to abolish the income tax completely: it went down in flames. (Michigan and California, however, several years each passed constitutional amendments severely restricting tax revenue: these have crippled their governments.)

No state initiatives in Tennessee, but Memphis passed a measure that would enact term limits on the mayor and some other elected offices. The way it's worded, though, it's possible the current mayor, who's been in office for the past 17 years, would continue to be in office until 2014. (This is because of another measure that passed that would change when elections were held -- creating a short term that may or may not count towards the term limit.)

Head, meet desk.

OK. I thought you were just one of those people who thinks everybody is automatically in favor of tax cuts, always. The one I knew about was in Massachusetts, a proposal to abolish the income tax completely: it went down in flames. (Michigan and California, however, several years each passed constitutional amendments severely restricting tax revenue: these have crippled their governments.)

Oh I agree 100% with you on that. It was just that the stores, bars and other business were hurting because people were being tight with their money.

Now, personally, I figured if we had the surplus and more coming in from the oil fields out in western dakota, we might as well give our populous a few years of reprieve on their taxes.

Looking at it though, a family making $50,000 would only see a $500 decrease in there taxes a year...so really I can see how it's more trouble than it is worth. Especially as we then have to repeal it later.

No state initiatives in Tennessee, but Memphis passed a measure that would enact term limits on the mayor and some other elected offices. The way it's worded, though, it's possible the current mayor, who's been in office for the past 17 years, would continue to be in office until 2014. (This is because of another measure that passed that would change when elections were held -- creating a short term that may or may not count towards the term limit.)

Head, meet desk.

ouch.

This is fascinating to read about from someone who lives in a country without states and state law etc. Very interesting!

Oh I agree 100% with you on that. It was just that the stores, bars and other business were hurting because people were being tight with their money.

Now, personally, I figured if we had the surplus and more coming in from the oil fields out in western dakota, we might as well give our populous a few years of reprieve on their taxes.

Looking at it though, a family making $50,000 would only see a $500 decrease in there taxes a year...so really I can see how it's more trouble than it is worth. Especially as we then have to repeal it later.

Isn't this why you have state legislatures, to decide these kinds of questions?

No, the reason I said WTF was because ND has a 1.3 Billion dollar surplus and we are wondering wtf to do with the money we have now. To stimulate the ND economy was the reason for this measure since we have more than enough to cover all our operating costs for the next five to ten years.

Why can't the state government just amend the taxes?

-snip-

And once again, we of Nevada give a big F-you to Federal law, even though it does trump state law, leading to yet more lawsuits.

Why does the state waste time holding propositions that regardless of the outcome are overruled by federal law?

Why can't the state government just amend the taxes?Jinx!

Hawaii had a half a dozen of propositions, none of which were very interesting. We voted against lowering the minimum age for governors from 30 to 25, voted against having a constitutional convention, and voted to give the government the power to establish a light rail transit system.

We also voted to make marijuana the "lowest enforcement priority" for the police. It's not decriminalization, but suggesting that the cops have better things to do than bust people for smoking pot.

(Michigan and California, however, several years each passed constitutional amendments severely restricting tax revenue: these have crippled their governments.)

What's this? I remember the Single Business Tax getting removed but that was replaced with the Michigan Business Tax.

Why does the state waste time holding propositions that regardless of the outcome are overruled by federal law?
Couple of reasons, housekeeping mainly. It also helps prevent confusion between Federal law and State law, which could lead to lawsuits if X person claimed that they were operating according to the stated laws of Nevada and didn't know about Federal laws.

The problem being of course that thanks to some ballot measures that have previously passed and the cow counties distrust of government in general and Las Vegas and Reno in particular, our state legislature meets every two years for 120 days period. That is, barely, enough time to pass the budget, let alone amend any laws or pass anything else.

Couple of reasons, housekeeping mainly. It also helps prevent confusion between Federal law and State law, which could lead to lawsuits if X person claimed that they were operating according to the stated laws of Nevada and didn't know about Federal laws.

The problem being of course that thanks to some ballot measures that have previously passed and the cow counties distrust of government in general and Las Vegas and Reno in particular, our state legislature meets every two years for 120 days period. That is, barely, enough time to pass the budget, let alone amend any laws or pass anything else.

Fair enough but then these shouldn't even be going to vote they should just be automatically changed if needed, and surely those lawsuits would fail as federal law overrules state law.

I shouldn't try to understand it, I should just say "It's America" that explains enough :p

Fair enough but then these shouldn't even be going to vote they should just be automatically changed if needed, and surely those lawsuits would fail as federal law overrules state law.

I shouldn't try to understand it, I should just say "It's America" that explains enough :p
It's a Nevada thing, not an American thing. ;)

Nevada's constitution just doesn't have a provision written to automatically adjust it if it come into conflict with the US Constitution, even though that document is the supreme law of the land, something that the Nevada Constitution mentions.

The sales tax law is the same, when it was written, any changes to it HAD to be approved by the voters, not just the state legislature.

And on another topic...

Q: What's his posting level?
A: It's over 9,000!!!! :D

It's a Nevada thing, not an American thing. ;)

Nevada's constitution just doesn't have a provision written to automatically adjust it if it come into conflict with the US Constitution, even though that document is the supreme law of the land, something that the Nevada Constitution mentions.

The sales tax law is the same, when it was written, any changes to it HAD to be approved by the voters, not just the state legislature.

How the hell do you get anything when almost everything including taxes must go to a general vote first? Though it is more along the lines of a true democracy.

And on another topic...

Q: What's his posting level?
A: It's over 9,000!!!! :D

That's wrong it currently* says 9000 so it's not over :p

*at time of posting

Missouri had

Amendment 1: Makes English the official language of public government meetings. Passed overwhelmingly, despite being utterly stupid. All such meetings were already conducted entirely in English, and no one has ever so much as asked for a translator to be present. Why we needed to amend our state constitution to require that we keep doing things the way they're already done just in case some nasty evil immigrants someday ask someone at a public meeting to speak Spanish is beyond me.

Amendment 4: Something about storm water management that, to be perfectly honest, I didn't really understand even after researching it. Passed. I have no idea if that's good or not. :tongue:

Prop A: Gives casinos a whole lot of rather disturbing things they lobbied for (no more loss limits, no new casinos owned by other companies can be built, no more checking everyone's ID, etc.) in exchange for slightly increasing their taxes and sending the new tax revenue towards rural schools. Passed. I am torn on whether this is a good thing, because I know perfectly well it only passed due to the massive campaign on the part of the casinos to convince people that Prop A was simply about diverting more money to schools without raising anyone's taxes. I don't much like that sort of political maneuvering.

Prop B: Creates some sort of council on helping disabled people live at home, or something. Passed. Seemed okay enough.

Prop C: Requires energy companies to convert 15% of their energy production to renewable sources by 2020-something (I forget the exact year). Passed, yay. :)

Hawaii had a half a dozen of propositions, none of which were very interesting. We voted against lowering the minimum age for governors from 30 to 25, voted against having a constitutional convention, and voted to give the government the power to establish a light rail transit system.

We also voted to make marijuana the "lowest enforcement priority" for the police. It's not decriminalization, but suggesting that the cops have better things to do than bust people for smoking pot.

sounds like pretty much the right ideas all the way arround of those mentioned.

now when they actually build some mini-rail transit, if the islands could just be towed northward to a cooler climate i might be tempted emigrate.

How the hell do you get anything when almost everything including taxes must go to a general vote first? Though it is more along the lines of a true democracy.
Simple enough, you don't. Nevada has had over a decade and a half of being either the fastest, or second fastest, growing state in the nation. When I was born in 1978, Nevada had around 800,000 people. It now has over 2,500,000 but it is still attempting to govern itself as if it had the 800,000.

Again, most of the cow counties do their level best to limit the government like that.

That's wrong it currently* says 9000 so it's not over :p

*at time of posting
Fine, 9,001 :tongue:

How did yours do?My state is FULL of ignorant, corrupt morons, and it literally pains me to even type of the ballot measure issues, to say nothing of speaking publicly of them.