Author Topic: (State) Ballot measures would legalize pot, end death penalty, create single-payer health care  (Read 1198 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Free Vulcan

  • Technical
  • *****
  • Posts: 23,683
  • Gender: Male
  • Ah, the air is so much fresher here...
While this year’s explosive presidential politics have drowned out battles at the state level, voters across the country nevertheless face a daunting number of weighty ballot questions on Nov. 8 – ranging from an effort to abolish the death penalty to one that would usher in a state-run health care system.

Other states are jumping on the bandwagon of weighing marijuana legalization, while minimum-wage hikes, gun control and even a statewide plastic-bag ban are being put to voters.

As usual, California leads in the number of statewide ballot measures with 17, including ones that revisit two hot-button social issues from the past.

At the top of the list are two competing measures regarding the death penalty – one (Proposition 62) putting an end to it and replacing it with life without parole. The other (Proposition 66) puts time limits on appeals in an attempt to fast-track executions. If both measures get a majority, the one that receives the most “yes” votes wins.

The fracas is reminiscent of the 1980s, when California voters bounced three sitting justices from the state Supreme Court because of their reluctance to implement the death penalty.

California is also voting on Proposition 58, which would allow public schools to restart controversial bilingual programs. The question dates back to a divisive battle in the 1990s over a system that taught immigrant children largely in their native languages, typically Spanish. The English for the Children campaign in 1998 mostly outlawed the practice and replaced it with English immersion. The ballot measure would reconsider that decision.

In neighboring Nevada, voters are considering a far-reaching electricity deregulation measure known as Question 3. If approved, it would insert language into the state constitution to require an “open, competitive retail electricity market.” Supporters see it as a way of breaking the public utility monopoly and jump-starting a marketplace filled with clean, alternative energy providers. Supporters include Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk. Opponents, mainly unions, depict it as a giveaway to billionaires.

Meanwhile, as ObamaCare gets bad publicity for rapidly rising premiums, Colorado voters are being asked to approve ColoradoCare, which would finance a $36-billion “universal healthcare” system to cover almost all Coloradans, thus making the Rocky Mountain State the single-payer guinea pig for the nation. To do so, Amendment 69 imposes a 10-percent payroll tax on employers, who would pay two-thirds of it, and employees, who would pay the remaining third.

Voters in Democratic-leaning Oregon also are being asked to slap a tax increase – 2.5 percent on gross sales in excess of $25 million – on some of the state’s largest employers. Measure 97 would be the largest tax increase in the state’s history, something that would be applied to total sales rather than profits. Opponents say it would raise the cost of goods and services, on everything from gasoline purchases to groceries. Proponents say it would provide needed funds for healthcare, senior services and public education.

Five states are considering the legalization of marijuana for recreational uses (Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada)...

Read more at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/01/ballot-measures-would-legalize-pot-end-death-penalty-create-single-payer-health-care.html
The Republic is lost.

Offline Frank Cannon

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26,097
  • Gender: Male
Meanwhile, as ObamaCare gets bad publicity for rapidly rising premiums, Colorado voters are being asked to approve ColoradoCare, which would finance a $36-billion “universal healthcare” system to cover almost all Coloradans, thus making the Rocky Mountain State the single-payer guinea pig for the nation. To do so, Amendment 69 imposes a 10-percent payroll tax on employers, who would pay two-thirds of it, and employees, who would pay the remaining third.

I guess it is about time we finally find out how far gone CO actually is.

Offline Weird Tolkienish Figure

  • Technical
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,131
Meanwhile, as ObamaCare gets bad publicity for rapidly rising premiums, Colorado voters are being asked to approve ColoradoCare, which would finance a $36-billion “universal healthcare” system to cover almost all Coloradans, thus making the Rocky Mountain State the single-payer guinea pig for the nation. To do so, Amendment 69 imposes a 10-percent payroll tax on employers, who would pay two-thirds of it, and employees, who would pay the remaining third.

I guess it is about time we finally find out how far gone CO actually is.


With the way things are these days I bet it will pass too.