Pundits opine on 2010's naughty and nice ballot measures
October 15, 2010
By Leslie Graves
With less than 3 weeks until 2010's pivotal mid-term elections, ballot-watching pundits are starting to draw up lists of which of 2010's ballot measures matter the most or tell the most interesting story about the mood of the electorate.
Justin Elliott, a columnist at Salon, published a list of "The five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives" on September 29.[1]
Elliot's list is reproduced here:
| 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 |
Fiscal conservative Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform gave Ballotpedia a list of "The 12 ballot initiatives for fiscal conservatives to watch" on October 12.[2]
Norquist's list is here:
| 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 | Guarantee all elections (including employee) by secret ballot |
| Labor | South Carolina | Amendment 2 | Guarantee all elections (including employee) by secret ballot |
| Labor | South Dakota | Amendment K | Guarantee all elections (including employee) by secret ballot |
| Labor | Utah | Amendment A | Guarantee all elections (including employee) by secret ballot |
| Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 25 | Simple majority, not 2/3rds vote, required for legislature to pass state budget |
Elliott and Norquist agree on the notability of 2 measures, California Proposition 23 and Oklahoma State Question 756.
We're encouraging pundits, bloggers and anyone who cares about ballot measures and has an opinion to give us their list, which we'll include here.
Please email Leslie Graves or Bailey Ludlam if you have an opinion and a list.
See also
- "5 Best" and "5 Worst" lists of 2010 ballot measures
- Ballotpedia:Analysis of the 2010 ballot measures
- Lists and commentary about 2010 ballot measures
- 2010 ballot measures
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