Trojan horse initiative

An image of a trojan horse

A Trojan horse initiative is an initiative that is promoted as offering a policy outcome that is likely to be popular with voters, while at the same time smuggling in other policies that are less likely to be popular with voters and are said to represent the true motivation of the sponsors of the initiative.

The allegation that a particular ballot measure is a "Trojan Horse" initiative is a subjective judgment, since it involves reaching conclusions about the true motivations of the sponsors of an initiative.

Alleged examples

2011

• West Hollywood Billboard Taxes and Regulation, Measure WH-A (March 2011). Measure A would tax billboard revenue, and it would also make it easier to erect Tall Wall billboards.

2008

• California Proposition 98 (2008). Supporters promoted it as protecting the public against eminent domain abuse, not mentioning that it would have repealed rent control.
• California Proposition 99 (2008) Supporters promoted it as protecting the public against eminent domain abuse, not mentioning that it had minimal protections against eminent domain abuse.
• California Proposition 93 (2008) Supporters promoted it as a pro-term limits initiative, without noting that it would have extended the amount of time state legislators can stay in office.

2007

• Maine Question Five (2007)

See also

• Poison pill (ballot measures)
• Single-subject rule