Daily Brew: October 17, 2018

October 17, 2018

Plus, California Proposition 8, the Limits on Dialysis Clinics' Revenue and Required Refunds Initiative, is the first 2018 measure with $100 million raised   Welcome to the Wednesday, October 17 Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Arkansas state spotlight Idaho state spotlight California Proposition 8, the Limits on Dialysis Clinics' Revenue and Required Refunds Initiative, is the first ballot measure of 2018 to see more than $100 million raised in support and opposition Arkansas: The Natural State Arkansas is holding elections for four U.S. House seats, governor and six other state executive offices, 18 out of 35 state Senate seats, all 100 state House seats, and a runoff election for one seat on the Arkansas Supreme Court. Ballotpedia is also covering four statewide ballot measures. What is the partisan balance in the state? Congress: Republicans hold both U.S. Senate seats and all four U.S. House seats. Governor: Republican. Lt. Governor: Republican. Attorney General:  Republican. State Senate: 25-9 Republican majority with one vacancy. State House: 75-24 Republican majority with one vacancy. Races to watch Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District: Incumbent Rep. French Hill (R) is opposed by state representative Clarke Tucker (D) and Joe Swafford (L). Hill was first elected in 2014 by 8 points and won re-election in 2016 by over 20 points. Republicans have held all four U.S. House seats in Arkansas since the 2010 elections. Arkansas Supreme Court: Incumbent state Supreme Court justice Courtney Goodson faces Arkansas Department of Human Services chief counsel David Sterling in a runoff election for one of seven positions on the court. Goodson and Sterling were the top two finishers in the general election for this seat held on May 22. Goodson was first elected to the court in 2010; Arkansas Supreme Court justices serve eight-year terms. Arkansas Issue 3, State Legislative Term Limits Initiative: Issue 3 would impose term limits of six years for members of the Arkansas House of Representatives and eight years for members of the Arkansas Senate. Specifically, the measure would allow representatives to be elected to no more than three two-year terms and senators to be elected to no more than two four-year terms. In total, no member of the state general assembly could serve more than 10 years. Currently, Arkansas has a 16-year cumulative total for both House and Senate. This measure would change it to 6 years for the House and 8 years for the Senate. The amendment would prohibit the general assembly from amending or repealing the term limits and would only be able to be amended or repealed by the people through the initiative and referendum process. What you need to know if you’re an Arkansas voter Early voting dates: October 22 to November 5. Polls open/close: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voter ID: A voter will be asked to present a valid photo ID. If a voter has no photo ID, he or she may instead sign a sworn statement, and the vote would be counted following a comparison of the voter's signature and the signature from his or her registration made by county officials after the election. Bookmark your sample ballot. Learn more         Idaho: Great Potatoes. Tasty Destinations. Idaho is holding elections for two U.S. House seats, governor and six other state executive offices, all 35 state Senate seats, and all 70 state House seats. Ballotpedia is also covering two statewide ballot measures and local elections in Ada County. What is the partisan balance in the state? Congress: Republicans hold both U.S. Senate seats and both U.S. House seats. Governor: Republican. Lt. Governor: Republican. Attorney General: Republican. State Senate: 29-6 Republican majority. State House: 59-11 Republican majority. What you need to know if you’re an Idaho voter Early voting dates: October 22 to November 2. Polls open/close: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voter ID: All voters in Idaho must present photo identification at the polls or sign an affidavit. Approved forms of photo identification include the following: Idaho driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. passport or federal ID card, a tribal photo ID card, or a student ID card, as long as the ID includes a photo and is issued by an institution in Idaho. If a voter is unable to present a valid ID, the voter is given the option to sign a Personal Identification Affidavit. On the affidavit, the voter swears to his or her identity under penalty of perjury. After signing the affidavit, the voter will be issued a regular ballot. Bookmark your sample ballot. Learn more→ California Proposition 8, the Limits on Dialysis Clinics' Revenue and Required Refunds Initiative, is the first ballot measure of 2018 to see more than $100 million raised in support and opposition The committees in support or opposition of California Proposition 8 have raised a combined $118 million, making the ballot measure the first of 2018 to exceed $100 million in contributions. Proposition 8, a proposal of the SEIU-UHW West, would require dialysis clinics to issue refunds to patients or patients' payers for revenue above 115 percent of the costs of what the measure calls direct patient care and healthcare improvements. Support Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection is leading the campaign in support of the initiative. The SEIU-UHW West organized the campaign committee. Supporters call the initiative the Fair Pricing for Dialysis Act. Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection had raised $18.46 million, with the SEIU-UHW West donating 95 percent of the total funds. Opposition The California Dialysis Council, a statewide association of dialysis clinics, organized the campaign committee Patients and Caregivers to Protect Dialysis Patients. The committee had raised $99.43 million, with 62 percent from the dialysis business DaVita, 29 percent from the dialysis business Fresenius Medical Care North America, and 7 percent from the dialysis business U.S. Renal Care. Prior to 2018, California had several conflicts over healthcare-related ballot measures in which more than $50 million was spent. In 2016, more than $128 million was spent surrounding Proposition 61, which was designed to regulate drug prices. Proposition 61 was rejected. In 2014, voters considered Proposition 45, which would have regulated health insurance rates, and Proposition 46, which would have increased the state's medical lawsuits cap and required drug testing for doctors. Both were defeated. In each of these conflicts surrounding healthcare ballot measures, opponents had outraised supporters. Comparison to 2016 campaign finance Ballot initiative average: $12.31 million was the average amount raised for or against a ballot initiative in 2016 Ballot initiative average in California: $37.68 million was the average amount raised for or against a California ballot initiative in 2016 Most contributions: California Proposition 61 was the most expensive in 2016, with campaigns raising a combined total of $128 million Learn more→ By the way, we’re closely watching our traffic to make sure we can keep up with all the voters using us as a resource. Today, we've had more traffic than Overstock.com. - - - - -