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Lists and commentary about 2010 ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
- See "5 Best" and "5 Worst" lists of 2010 ballot measures for 58 of 2010's most notable ballot measures.
- See "5 Best" and "5 Worst" lists of 2010 ballot measures for 58 of 2010's most notable ballot measures.
Justin Elliott (Salon)
Justin Elliott, a columnist at Salon, published a list of "The five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives" on September 29.[1]
He chose:
| Subject | State | Ballot measure | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abortion | Colorado | Amendment 62 | Fertilized egg to be defined as a person |
| Affirmative action | Arizona | Proposition 107 | Government entities banned from race/gender preferences |
| Environment | California | Proposition 23 | Suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5% |
| Healthcare | Oklahoma | SQ 756 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Spending/taxes | Missouri | Proposition A | Cities with earnings taxes would periodically have to put up for public vote |
Josh Goodman ("Governing")
Josh Goodman of Governing weighed in with "Four Ballot Measures the Political Establishment Hates" on September 24.[2]
He chose:
| Subject | State | Ballot measure | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public finance | Colorado | Amendment 61 | Forbid debt by loans in any form |
| Taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3% |
| Property rights | Florida | Amendment 4 | Voter approval required for all changes to land-use plans ("Hometown Democracy") |
| Education/spending | Oklahoma | SJR 101 | Mandates level of spending State of Oklahoma must provide to public schools |
Paul Jacob (Citizens in Charge)
Paul Jacob of Citizens in Charge published a list of "The 10 Measures to Watch" on September 26.[3]
He chose:
| Subject | State | Ballot measure | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1098 | Tax gross income above $200,000/individuals, $400,000/couples, reduce property tax 4% |
| Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 26 | 2/3rds vote required to enact new taxes/fees |
| Healthcare | Colorado | Amendment 63 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Spending/taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3% |
| Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1053 | Re-instate requirement of a supermajority vote in state legislature to raise taxes |
| Campaign finance | Florida | Amendment 1 | Repeal of public financing of statewide candidates who agree to spending limits |
| Alcohol | Washington | I-1100 | Privatize state liquor stores |
| Marijuana | California | Proposition 19 | Legalize marijuana |
| Environment | California | Proposition 23 | Suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5% |
| Smoking | South Dakota | Referred Law 12 | Statewide smoking ban including in bars, casinos |
Dan Mitchell (CATO)
Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute, who has been described as "a high priest of light tax, small state libertarianism," published a list on October 27 of "Nine Key Ballot Initiatives to Watch," saying, "While everyone is focused on whether Republicans will win control of the House and/or Senate, there are several issues that voters will directly decide that deserve close attention. Here are the nine initiatives that have caught my attention."[4]
| Subject | State | Ballot measure | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1098 | Taxes gross income above $200,000 for individuals, $400,000 for couples, reduce property tax 4% |
| Eminent domain | Nevada | Question 4 | Make it easier for gov't agencies to use eminent domain |
| Marijuana | California | Proposition 19 | Legalize marijuana |
| Firearms | Kansas | Question 1 | Constitutional right for citizens to bear arms in the state |
| Healthcare | Arizona | Proposition 106 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Pension reform | San Francisco | The "Adachi Initiative" | Require city workers to contribute more to their pension and health insurance |
| Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 25 | Simple majority, not 2/3rds vote, required for legislature to pass state budget |
| Spending/taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3% |
| Labor/pensions | Louisiana | Amendment 6 | Require 2/3 vote to enact changes to retirement provisions |
Grover Norquist
Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform gave Ballotpedia a list of "The 12 ballot initiatives for fiscal conservatives to watch" on October 12.[5]
| Subject | State | Ballot measure | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1098 | Taxes gross income above $200,000 for individuals, $400,000 for couples, reduce property tax 4% |
| Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 26 | 2/3rds vote required to enact new taxes/fees |
| Healthcare | Arizona | Proposition 106 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Healthcare | Colorado | Amendment 63 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Healthcare | Oklahoma | SQ 756 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Spending/taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3% |
| Environment | California | Proposition 23 | Suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5% |
| Labor | Arizona | Amendment A | Union elections by secret ballot |
| Labor | South Carolina | Amendment 2 | Union elections by secret ballot |
| Labor | South Dakota | Amendment K | Union elections by secret ballot |
| Labor | Utah | Amendment A | Union elections by secret ballot |
| Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 25 | Simple majority, not 2/3rds vote, required for legislature to pass state budget |
Footnotes
- ↑ The five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives Salon, "The five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives," September 29, 2010
- ↑ Governing, "Four Ballot Measures the Political Establishment Hates," September 24, 2010
- ↑ Townhall, "The 10 measures to watch," September 26, 2010
- ↑ Daniel Mitchell, "Nine Key Ballot Initiatives to Watch," October 27, 2010
- ↑ Via email communication with Leslie Graves.
