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Welcome to the Friday, December 28 Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- 726 measures were on California ballots across the state in 2018
- As the end of the year approaches, here’s where we stand with the Federal Register
- Three years ago tomorrow: George Pataki (R) suspends his presidential campaign
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726 measures were on California ballots across the state in 2018
Ballotpedia’s annual analysis of local ballot measures in California takes a look at the 726 measures that were on ballots across the state in 2018.
Quick stats
- The majority of all local California measures (544 measures) were on ballots during the statewide general election on November 6, followed by the primary election on June 5 (158 measures).
- The total number of local ballot measures in each county throughout 2018 ranged from zero measures in Trinity, Kings, and Colusa counties to 80 measures in Los Angeles County.
- With 726 local measures on California ballots throughout the year, there were roughly 100 fewer local measures in 2018 than in 2016. The approval rate for all measures was 2 percent higher in 2018 (78 percent approval) than in 2016 (76 percent approval).
Measures by topic
- Of the 726 local ballot measures, 48 percent were tax measures (not including marijuana tax measures), 23 percent were bond issues, 16 percent were marijuana-related measures (including tax and regulatory measures), and the remaining 13 percent covered various topics.
- Other topics included housing—including four measures related to rent control— healthcare costs, and measures affecting large companies like Google and Disney.
Highlights
- A lawsuit was filed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and other business organizations against the city and county of San Francisco concerning Proposition C, the San Francisco Commercial Rent Tax for Childcare and Early Education, which was on the ballot in June. This ongoing legal challenge brought into question whether the vote requirement should be a simple majority vote or a two-thirds (66.67 percent) supermajority vote for all citizen initiatives that propose special taxes.
- Ballots in 10 local jurisdictions featured competing measures—measures that directly conflict with one another. When two competing measures face off, only one can be approved. It is also possible for both to be defeated. Five measures proposed by local governments were approved, and four citizen initiatives were approved. Voters in Compton, California, defeated a pair of competing marijuana measures in January.
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We’re rapidly approaching the end of the year which means there are only a few short days left to give charitable donations for 2018. Please consider a gift to Ballotpedia as we close the books on 2018.
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As the end of the year approaches, here’s where we stand with the Federal Register
The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity which includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory execution.
During the week of December 17 to December 21, the number of pages in the Federal Register increased by 1,644 pages, bringing the year-to-date total to 66,076 pages. A total of 583 documents were included in the week’s Federal Register, including 448 notices, seven presidential documents, 46 proposed rules, and 82 rules.
One proposed rule and six final rules were deemed significant under E.O. 12866—meaning that they may have large impacts on the economy, environment, public health, or state or local governments. Significant actions may also conflict with presidential priorities or other agency rules.
During the same week in 2017, the number of pages in the Federal Register increased by 888 pages, bringing the year-to-date total to 60,834 pages. As of December 21, the 2018 total led the 2017 total by 5,242 pages.
The Trump administration has added an average of 1,296 pages to the Federal Register each week in 2018 as of December 21. Over the course of the Obama administration, the Federal Register increased by an average of 1,658 pages per week.
According to government data, the Federal Register hit an all-time high of 95,894 pages in 2016.
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Three years ago tomorrow: George Pataki (R) suspends his presidential campaign
With 2019 around the corner, presidential primary news coverage will expand as more and more candidates enter the field. We’ve been regularly combing through our archives of coverage from the 2016 election cycle. By this time three years ago, Bobby Jindal (R), Lindsey Graham (R), Lawrence Lessig (D), Lincoln Chafee (D), Jim Webb (D), Scott Walker (R), and Rick Perry (R), had all dropped out of the presidential race.
Remember the presidential candidacy of former New York Governor George Pataki (R)? He had previously announced on May 28, 2015, that he was seeking the Republican nomination. By December 29, 2015, the campaign had ended.
Beginning in late January, the Ballotpedia staff will be back at it with the Daily Presidential News Briefing. These updates will feature candidates' commentary on current events and policy positions, recent polls, debates, Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee politics, advertising campaigns, super PAC activity, campaign staff transitions, and more and will arrive in your inbox every morning.
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