BF2S Forums What ballot measures are up in your state? How will you be voting?

Cybargs wrote:

thought you weren't a citizen?

hence "I'd" rather than "I'll"

Washington State

Initiative Measure No. 1185 - yes...AGAIN

Initiative Measure No. 1185 concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government.

This measure would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.

Initiative Measure No. 1240 - yes

Initiative Measure No. 1240 concerns creation of a public charter school system.

This measure would authorize up to forty publicly-funded charter schools open to all students, operated through approved, nonreligious, nonprofit organizations, with government oversight; and modify certain laws applicable to them as public schools.

Referendum Measure No. 74 - approve

Gay Marriage wrote:

The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill.

This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony.

Initiative Measure No. 502 - yes

Pot wrote:

Initiative Measure No. 502 concerns marijuana. This measure would license and regulate marijuana production, distribution, and possession for  persons over twenty-one; remove state-law criminal and civil penalties for activities that it authorizes; tax marijuana sales; and earmark marijuana-related revenues.

Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8221 - approve

The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on implementing the Commission on State Debt recommendations regarding Washington's debt limit.

This amendment would, starting July 1, 2014, phase-down the debt limit percentage in three steps from nine to eight percent and modify the calculation date, calculation period, and the term general state revenues.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 8223 - NO!

Wall Street Casino wrote:

The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on investments by the University of Washington and Washington State University.

This amendment would create an exception to constitutional restrictions on investing public funds by allowing these universities to invest specified public funds as authorized by the legislature, including in private companies or stock.

Advisory Vote No. 1 (Engrossed Senate Bill 6635) - maintain

The legislature eliminated, without a vote of the people, a business and occupation tax deduction for certain financial institutions’ interest on residential loans, costing $170,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.

Advisory Vote No. 2 (Substitute House Bill 2590) - maintain

The legislature extended, without a vote of the people, expiration of a tax on possession of petroleum products and reduced the tax rate, costing $24,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.

Pierce County

Proposed Charter Amendment No. 40 - yes

The Pierce County Council passed Ordinance No. 2012-15s proposing to amend the Pierce County Charter (“Charter”).  If approved, Proposed Charter Amendment No. 40 would amend the Charter to require that, after January 1, 2013, any “new Councilmanic tax” (as defined in Ordinance No. 2012-15s), may be levied or increased only by a minimum two-thirds vote of the Council; all as set forth in Ordinance No. 2012-15s.

Pierce Transit Special Election - Proposition No. 1 - yes

The Board of Commissioners of the Pierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area (commonly known as Pierce Transit) adopted Resolution No. 12-021 concerning a proposition to increase the sales and use tax. If approved, this proposition would authorize Pierce Transit to impose an additional three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) sales and use tax, for a total sales and use tax of nine-tenths of one percent (0.9%), to fund restoration and provision of services including, without limitation: Special event and commuter service, services for people with disabilities and capital improvements, all as authorized by Resolution No. 12-021

_{p.s. - was originally going to link these to their pages, but then decided against it.}

Other than these, the governor and the presidency, the most time I spent trying to figure out which way I was going on this election was for commissioner of public lands. Do I go with the incumbent Democrat douche who people hate to work with or the Tea Party zealot Republican endorsed by Sarah Palin. UGH!!

pirana6 wrote:

other than that I don't remember. Those were the two that could go either way that were important to me so they stuck in my head. The rest were voted using the internet to see wtf they were about and made via a game-time decision.

I spent about six hours looking up summary, for/against statements and endorsements for candidates, initiatives and such. I'd already made up my  mind about the biggies (governor, president, gay marriage), but the rest, particularly the candidates, were a bit frustrating to find anything solid on.

all i remember is something about weed and non-injun casinos.

I've never understood how people could justify something as culturally and socially destructive as legalized gambling.  The long term effects are well  known and undisputed.  It subsidizes corruption at almost every level of society, from the legislators and organized crime at the top to the low paid workforce at the bottom which subsequently spends it all away.  I understand and even support the socially liberal positions on porn, drugs, homosexuality, etc.  But gambling imo just crosses a line.  The "we'll pay for our education system with it" line is a bullshit excuse to underfund important state programs, which then become dependent on an unstable form a revenue. 

Here in Florida the state legislature is corrupt as fuck, I'd like to be naive enough to think it's one of the worst in the country but I know better.  The state GOP has been in power for 50 years, and before that it was the Democrats since the Civil War.  Super majority stuff I mean.  Not exaggerating.  This is in a swing state where there a hundreds of thousands MORE registered Democrats than registered Republicans, that went blue in 08.  It is just unreal.

Anyway,

ballotpedia wrote:

Amendment 8, also known as the Florida Religious Freedom Amendment, is on the November 6, 2012, state ballot in Florida as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment.
The proposed measure would prevent individuals from being barred from participating in public programs if they choose to use public funds at a religious provider. Essentially, the measure moves to repeal the state's ban of public dollars for religious funding, also known as the "Blaine Amendment."

The fuckers actually have the gall to call it the "religious freedom" amendment when it is in fact the freedom of the state government to directly fund religious programs.  I'd be surprised if someone on here can top this one.

Last edited by Spearhead (2012-11-06 00:58:39)

Hurricane2k9 wrote:

alcohol is pretty bad too but I haven't seen any renewed efforts for Prohibition. People are gonna blow their money away on something no matter what.

same with ciggies

Addiction in general is destructive when taken to extremes. Banning gambling will just create a ton of gambling-related crime and overfill our already straining prison system. People who obey the ban will just find something else to blow their life on if that's their thing.

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

Addiction in general is destructive.

No self respecting pot head would buy a pack of pre-rolled joints. How can you possible ensure the quality of the flower?

I'm interested to see how the pricing is gonna be dealt with in general

Superior Mind wrote:

AussieReaper wrote:

Superior Mind wrote:

No self respecting pot head would buy a pack of pre-rolled joints. How can you possible ensure the quality of the flower?

Because of the company advertising and brand recognition?

The same way every other product sells legally?

Cannabis is a plant. I for one don't like to buy pre-packaged plants. I go to the grocery store and select fresh vegetables.

I try to apply the same scrutiny when I buy cannabis.

people will buy rolled J's, kinda like people buying rolled ciggeretes already

AussieReaper wrote:

Superior Mind wrote:

AussieReaper wrote:

Because of the company advertising and brand recognition?

The same way every other product sells legally?

Cannabis is a plant. I for one don't like to buy pre-packaged plants. I go to the grocery store and select fresh vegetables.

I try to apply the same scrutiny when I buy cannabis.

Tobacco is a plant.

Warman is a plant.