Monthly Archives: October 2011

Colorado: Tax increases for public education on Nov. 1 ballot

October 31, 2011

When Colorado voters go to the polls November 1, the only statewide issue on the ballot will be Proposition 103, a measure that would increase sales and income taxes to provide money for public education. The controversial measure, which would generate $2.9 billion over the five years the tax increase would be in effect, is…

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Mississippi: Voters take on Voter ID issue at polls next week

October 31, 2011

Mississippi voters will wade through many other offices and questions in the Nov. 8 general election before they reach constitutional initiative No. 27, which asks them whether the state should require voters to show a government-issued photo to prove their identity. A bit of irony comes into play here: some voters who say yes to…

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Maine: Initiative would mandate more power from renewables

October 28, 2011

Six years before Maine utility companies are required to get at least 10 percent of their power from renewable energy sources, a coalition of Maine businesses, organizations and individuals is trying to get that amount doubled. And if the Maine Citizens for Clean Energy coalition gets its way, Maine’s utilities would have just three more…

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Massachusetts: Health insurance initiative facing difficulty

October 28, 2011

A ballot campaign to gut a cornerstone of the 2006 health care law signed by Gov. Mitt Romney has generated little out-of-state interest despite the potential national implications of the effort, a top organizer said Thursday. Bridget Fay, treasurer of the campaign to repeal the state’s requirement that residents obtain health insurance – a move…

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California: Pension reform could be on state ballot

October 28, 2011

Advocates of public employee pension reform are currently collecting petition signatures for three ballot initiatives that would significantly overhaul public pensions. One measure would increase the minimum retirement age for public employees to 65 (58 for public safety officers). Advocates of the measure must collect 807,615 signatures by Feb. 3 for the measure to qualify…

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Washington: Questions answered regarding liquor initiative

October 27, 2011

Readers sent questions Wednesday about a Costco-backed voter initiative on the November ballot that would privatize the state’s liquor business. Here’s an edited version of our question-and-answer session on Initiative 1183. Read the story from The Seattle Times

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Massachusetts: Insurance agents pull ballot initiative campaign

October 27, 2011

The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) has agreed to a request from state lawmakers to withdraw the ballot initiative it filed in August to prohibit the use of credit scoring, education, and occupational data in auto insurance. From now on, the group will focus on its ongoing legislative effort. Read the story from the…

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California: Death penalty could make it to ballot

October 27, 2011

Organizers of the SAFE California campaign say they believe voters are ready to abolish the death penalty and replace it with life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Campaign to collect signatures to place an anti-death penalty initiative on the 2012 ballot was launched across the state, including here in San Diego, today.…

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Mississippi: Voters to weigh in on Voter ID and Life issues

October 25, 2011

Voters will decide the fate of three proposed amendments to Mississippi’s constitution in just over two weeks in the General Election. We’ve learned it won’t be as simple as which side gets the most votes. Each needs 40 percent of all votes cast to become law. Initiative 26 is the so-called personhood proposal. It defines…

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California: Citizens will vote despite allegations of law-breaking

October 25, 2011

An allegation that the Palo Alto City Council violated state law when it placed a measure on the Nov. 8 ballot to repeal binding interest arbitration for its public safety unions will not be resolved until voters have had their say. The International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1319, filed an unfair labor practice complaint…

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