Sunday, August 07, 2022

There aren't just candidates for voters to consider in November; there are ballot questions too

There are 11 questions on the ballot (pending lawsuits, of course); eight were put their by the state legislature and three are there as a result of citizen initiatives.


Generally, I tell folks to vote "no" on any measure proposed by the legislature (usually, anything they propose is as extreme and anti-Arizona as the Rs in the legislature), but there's a couple of exceptions to that this time.  More on that later.

While I'm not a fan of endorsement politics, sometimes one can tell things about a question (or candidate) from who supports or opposes that question (or candidate).


The Arizona Secretary of State's web page of the arguments submitted for and against particular questions is here.


While I have an opinion of every measure (Me?  Have an opinion?  Shocking, I know. :) ), the AZSOS will be holding town halls on the measures, and the linked website will have the schedule when it's available.  Having said that, I urge all readers to form their own opinion before casting their vote on each measure.


On to each measure...


Proposition 128, proposed by the legislature.  If passed by the voters, it would allow the lege to "correct" the language in voter-proposed ballot initiatives.

Supported by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Cathi Herrod, and other industry lobbyists.

Opposed by the League of Women Voters and community activists from all over the state.

Let the lege breach the Voter Protection Act? Easy "NO" vote.


Proposition 129, proposed by the legislature.  If passed by the voters, it would impose a "single subject" restriction on voter-proposed initiatives.

Supported by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Cathi Herrod, and other industry lobbyists.

Opposed by the League of Women Voters and community activists from all over the state.

Another easy "NO".  This would corporate interests another way to override the will, and interests, of the voters of Arizona.


Proposition 130, proposed by the legislature.  If passed by the voters, it would re-establish and expand an exemption from property taxes for disabled veterans.

Supported by various county assessors and veterans' groups.

Opposed by: no opposing arguments submitted.

I'm going to vote "NO" on this one, not out of disregard for veterans but out of disregard for the legislature.  If they think that reducing the tax base for school districts, counties, municipalities, and whoever else uses property taxes, it's probably bad for Arizona.


Proposition 131, proposed by the legislature.  If passed by the voters, it would create a lieutenant governor's position chosen by a party's gubernatorial nominee.

Supported by a legislator, the League of Women Voters, and Kelli Ward, chair of the Arizona Republican Party.

Opposed by: no opposing arguments submitted.

Voting "NO"; it's a bad idea.  We already have enough elected officials.


Proposition 132, proposed by the legislature.  If passed by the voters, it would impose a requirement on citizen initiatives that raise taxes gain a 60% approval from voters to pass.

Supported by a legislator, Doug Ducey, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Cathi Herrod, The Goldwater Institute, and other corporate lobbyists.

Opposed by by teachers, teachers' organizations, the League of Women Voters, and community activists from all over the state. 

Let the legislature and corporate interests undermine the will of people?  "NO."


Proposition 308, proposed by the legislature.  If passed by the voters, it would grant in state tuition to DREAMers.

Supported by students, community activists, people of faith, and others.

Opposed by Russell Pearce, Kelli Ward, and other bigots.

Easy "YES".  It's the right thing to do.  My first exception to my "vote no on anything proposed by the legislature" policy.


Proposition 309, proposed by the legislature. If passed by the voters, it would require early voters to provide ID when casting a ballot.

Supported by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, the Goldwater Institute, and other individual and group proponents of the "Big Lie".

Opposed by community activists all over the state.

Easy "NO".


Proposition 310, proposed by the legislature. If passed by the voters, it would add 1/10 of 1 percent (.1%) to the state's sales tax with the revenue raised going to the state's many fire districts.

Supported by fire fighters everywhere.

Opposed by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Kelli Ward, a former legislator, and Andy Biggs' wife, Cindy,

The other exception to my "vote no on anything proposed by the legislature" policy.  I'm not a fan of the sales tax (I believe that it's a regressive tax that unfairly impacts those who can least afford it.)  So does having your house burn down.

"YES".


Public initiatives don't yet have proposition numbers assigned to them, but those that have submitted enough signatures to be on the ballot have already pro and con arguments submitted for them.


I-04-2022, the Voters' Right to Know Act.  If passed by the voters, the measure would require disclosure of original funding sources for campaign media efforts.

Supported by Terry Goddard, the League of Women Voters, and community activists from all over the state.

Opposed by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and Cathi Herrod (and, presumably, anyone who benefits from "Dark Money".)

"YES".  This measure does NOTHING to prevent anyone from contributing to their political cause of their preference.


I-05-2022Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act.  If passed by the voters, the measure would add protections related to medical debt, including a cap on interest rates. 

Supported by health care providers, community activists, and people affected by medical debt.

Opposed by the Goldwater Institute and other corporate lobbyists/apologists.

"YES".  Getting sick or injured should lead to a visit to a hospital, not bankruptcy court.


I-16-2022, Arizonans for Free and Fair Elections.  If passed by the voters, the measure would add a slew of election reforms to Arizona law.

Supported by the League of Women Voters, community activists all over the state, and Native American leaders.

Opposed by Kelli Ward, many Rs in the legislature, Cathi Herrod, business interests, and other adherents of the "Big Lie".

"YES".


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