The Tuesday Count: More marijuana, minimum wage measures expected in upcoming elections
November 25, 2014
Edited by Brittany Clingen
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Marijuana activists think Maine is ripe to become the first Northeastern state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana and are hoping to put a measure before voters in 2016. Meanwhile, down South, Texas legislators pre-filed 33 legislatively referred constitutional amendments to be considered during the 2015 legislative session. At the local level, activists are once again attempting to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in three different cities.
Marijuana in Maine:
After successfully passing recreational marijuana measures in several Western states, activists are taking their fight to the Northeast in the hopes that Maine will become the first state in that region to approve a ballot measure legalizing and regulating recreational use of the drug. Many Northeastern states have limited direct democracy available, making it harder or, in some cases, impossible for citizens to land measures on the ballot. However, Maine allows citizens to refer measures via indirect initiative, whereby citizens can send a measure to the state legislature if they collect enough signatures. If no action is taken by the legislature, the measure is automatically put before voters. Furthermore, activists view Maine's marijuana-friendly history as an advantage that could help further their cause. Maine decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana almost forty years ago and became the first state in New England to legalize the medical use of the drug 15 years ago. In order to put the measure before the legislature, supporters must collect approximately 61,000 valid signatures by the state's prescribed deadline. So far, a total of eight state ballots have the potential to feature marijuana legalization measures in 2016.[1]
Texas legislators pre-file 2015 legislative referrals:
With just over a month left in 2014, Texas legislators got a jump start on 2015 by pre-filing 33 legislatively referred constitutional amendments that will be considered during next year's session. Topics featured among the batch of bills include term limits, taxes, the minimum wage and marriage. One potential measure that has received media attention is the Protect Religious Freedom Amendment. If it ultimately is sent to the ballot and is approved by voters, the measure would prohibit the government from burdening an individual’s or organization’s freedom to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by "a sincerely held religious belief," unless the government can prove that the burden is to further compelling government interests and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.[2] Opponents of the measure, including some LGBT equality advocates, are concerned the amendment will become a "license to discriminate." Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez, in an op-ed in The Advocate, said the measure "would allow business owners and services to refuse to serve LGBT customers if doing so would violate their religious beliefs."[3] A two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Texas State Legislature is required to refer this, and all the other proposed amendments, to the ballot. Texas is one of sixteen states that requires a two-thirds supermajority.
Local spotlight
Advocates of a $15 per hour minimum wage look to 2015 for new targets:
In an effort to keep momentum on their side, minimum wage activists are not pausing long to celebrate 2014 victories, but are already looking ahead to at least three new cities to target. Efforts to boost the pay for low-wage workers are underway in Bellevue, Washington; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles, California. In Bellevue, 15 Now hopes to achieve a higher minimum wage to match Seattle's historic increase to $15 per hour that was brought about largely through the threat of a citizen initiative. In Philadelphia, where voters overwhelmingly approved the pro-labor Prop. 1 in May of 2014, members of the 15 Now movement are urging the city council to put an amendment on the ballot that would allow the city to increase its minimum wage, an action currently restricted by previously enacted city law. The group says they will begin collecting signatures for a petition if the city council fails to act. The Los Angeles Workers Assembly, however, boasts the most progress for its proposal to effect a $15 per hour minimum wage. The group's initiative was approved by the city clerk for circulation and its members hope to collect the nearly 62,000 valid signatures required to qualify their measure for the ballot by the end of January 2015.[4][5][6]
Other measures in the news
- Oregon Mandatory Labeling of GMOs Initiative, Measure 92 (2014): With only 809 votes separating "yes" and "no" votes, Measure 92 is headed for a recount.[7]
- Mississippi Veto Referendum Amendment, Initiative 44 (2016): A battle for citizen veto referendum powers starts in Mississippi.[8]
- California "Devolution" Panel Initiative (2016): Group looks to "devolve" California from the United States, a process modeled after Scotland.[9]
See also
| 2014 ballot measures |
| Tuesday Count • 2014 Scorecard |
Footnotes
- ↑ Merced Sun-Star, "Marijuana advocates hope Maine goes legal next," November 23, 2014
- ↑ Texas Legislature, "SJR No. 10," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ The Advocate, "Texas Senator Proposes Another 'License to Discriminate' Bill," November 11, 2014
- ↑ CPA Practice Advisor, "Another U.S. City Pushes for $15 Minimum Wage," September 11, 2014
- ↑ Workers.org, "Los Angeles activists petition for $15 minimum wage," November 15, 2014
- ↑ Next City, "Philly Could Be Next City to Raise Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour," November 21, 2014
- ↑ KGW, "Oregon GMO Measure 92 headed for recount," November 24, 2014
- ↑ Mississippi Secretary of State, "Relating to Referenda," accessed November 24, 2014
- ↑ Sovereign California, "A New Hope for California Initiative," accessed November 20, 2014
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