State Ballot Measures to Note

The Heritage Foundation selected ten state ballot measures they considered worth watching, and they were, but there were others that I think bear noting.  Now that Florida has finally finished counting their votes we can look at the results.  Perhaps Florida should consider moving to an election system that doesn’t involve chisels and rocks.

The results show a wide range of ideologies in the states and make me very happy to live in Oklahoma, where some of these ridiculous measures would never have even been considered for the ballot.  Apparently there’s a lot of people in some states who want to smoke marijuana.

Arkansas

• Issue 5 – Authorize the use of medical marijuana in the state. – Failed

California

• Proposition 30 – Jerry Brown’s tax increases. A state sales tax increase and also a retroactive income tax increase. – Passed
• Proposition 34 – End the death penalty. – Failed
• Proposition 39 – Income tax increase for multi state businesses. – Passed

Colorado

• Amendment 64 – Legalize recreational use of marijuana with regulations. – Passed
• Amendment 65 – Set policy on prohibiting corporate contributions and expenditures in elections. Basically an unenforceable referendum on the Citizens United court decision. – Passed

Florida

• Amendment 1 – Prevent penalties for not purchasing health care coverage in order to comply with federal health care reforms. – Failed
• Amendment 6 – Prohibits public funds for abortions. – Failed

Maine

• Question 1 – Overturn a ban on gay marriage in the state. – Passed

Maryland

• Question 4 – Approve legislation that guarantees in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. – Passed

Massachusetts

• Question 3 – Allow for the use of medical marijuana in the state. – Passed

Michigan

• Proposal 2 – Make collective bargaining a right for public and private workers. – Failed
• Proposal 3 – Mandate that 25% of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2025. This measure was primarily backed by out-of-state environmental groups. – Failed

Minnesota

• Amendment 1 – Ban same sex marriage. – Failed
• Amendment 2 – Require people to present photo identification to vote. – Failed

Montana

• Referendum 120 – Require parental notification before a minor’s abortion. – Passed
• Referendum 121 – Require proof of citizenship before receiving state services. – Passed
• Initiative 166 – Set policy on prohibiting corporate contributions and expenditures in elections. Basically an unenforceable referendum on the Citizens United court decision. – Passed

New Hampshire

• Question 1 – Ban new taxes on personal income. – Failed

North Carolina

• Amendment 1 – Defines marriage in the state as one man and one woman. – Passed

Oregon

• Measure 84 – Phases out estate and inheritance taxes. – Failed

Washington

• Referendum 74 – Asks if same sex marriage should be legalized in the state. – Passed (Yes)
• Initiative 502 – Legalize and regulate the sale of small amounts of marijuana to people 21 and older. – Passed

Wyoming

• Amendment A – Asserts state’s rights concerning Obamacare participation. – Passed

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