In 2020 I put up a few posts for various states to talk about initiatives that are on the ballot (or whatever they call them in your state). We started with someone who was willing to write up the initiatives for that state, they included good sources of information, and added their take. Then I put up a post so people could discuss it.
John’s thought is that we would expand that to more states – and that we would turn the information into voter guides and try to spread the word on the internet. Cole’s thought is that there are a ton of right-wing sources on the internet and he would like to see this make it really easy for folks to get an alternative view.
So the first thing we need to know is which of the 50 states have initiatives (or whatever they call them).
If you know about your state, or any other state, please chime in below. Also, please tell us what that state calls these – some states seem to have other names for the same kind of thing.
The next thing we need is volunteers for each of the states that have initiatives.
pacem appellant
I’m sorry I’m unable to do write-ups for the 2022 California Propositions this year. In lieu of a full write-up, I can offer this:
1 Y (HELL YES)
26 N
27 N
28 Y
29 N
30 Y
31 Y
BlueGuitarist
Ballotpedia has this list of ballot measures November 8
https://ballotpedia.org/Ballot_Measure_Scorecard,_2022
WaterGirl
WaterGirl
Alaska Ballot Measure 1, Constitutional Convention Question (2022)
Origuy
Ballotpedia also has the measures listed by state. https://ballotpedia.org/2022_ballot_measures
My take on California’s is the same as pacem appellent.
WaterGirl
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Origuy
@WaterGirl: It’s my understanding that damn near anything in Alabama requires a change to the state constitution. It runs for about 390,000 words.
WaterGirl
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2liberal
I’m not bright enough to write reviews for Arizona but this is a list of ballot initiatives
https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_2022_ballot_measures
one source
https://progressivevotersguide.com/arizona/?cd=4th&hd=12&sd=12&city=tempe&county=maricopa&enhanced=1
this is how it is put together
https://progressivevotersguide.com/arizona/2022/general/about
WaterGirl
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BruceJ
@WaterGirl: ANY AZ Ballot measure starting with a ‘1’ should be voted against. Those are the ones foisted on the ballot by the Legislature.
WaterGirl
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Mai Naem mobile
Maybe we should kick in some $$$ to these guys who are kind of doing what you’re saying.
https://stateinnovation.org/is-six-the-alec-of-the-left/
WaterGirl
WaterGirl
WaterGirl
WaterGirl
@Mai Naem mobile: Interesting! It doesn’t look like they are taking on ballot initiatives, but yeah, we should look at them going forward.
Anonymous At Work
Ya got my takes on Arkansas and Florida. I can try to include more references but shorter is Arkansas = NO x4 (Marijuana Amendment is a “reward-the-backers” bill) and Florida is “No, Yes, No” because 1 & 3 are micro-managing property assessments/homestead exemptions via state constitutional amendment rather than ordinary legislation.
BlueGuitarist
11 AL 10 Amendment, 1 Question
1 AK Ballot Measure
10 AZ Proposition
4 AR issue
7 CA Proposition
11 CO 3 Amendments, 8 propositions
1 CT question
3 FL Amendment
4 GA 2 Amendment, 2 Referendum
2 ID 1 Advisory Ballot, 1 Constitutional Amendment
1 IL Amendment
1 IA Amendment
2 KS Amendment
2 KY Amendment
8 LA Amendment
5 MD question
4 MA question
3 MI question
5 MO 4 Amendment, 1 Convention Question
2 MT
3 NE 1 Amendment 2 Initiative
2 NH 1 Amendment, 1 Convention Question
3 NV question
6 NM 3 Question 3 Amendment
1 NY proposal
2 ND
2 OH issue
4 OR Measure
3 RI question
2 SC Amendment
2 SD 1 Amendment 1 Initiated Measure
4 TN Amendment
1 UT Amendment
2 VT Proposal
2 WA Advisory Vote
4 WV Amendment
2 WY Amendment
oatler
@WaterGirl:
Ads for 308 are plastering AZ, as usual by some dark money group.
BlueGuitarist
Ballotpedia issue summaries:
https://ballotpedia.org/2022_ballot_measures
Abortion has been a topic for statewide ballot measures since the 1970s. Since 2000, there have been just two general election cycles, 2002 and 2016, without abortion-related state ballot measures. In 2022, there will be six ballot measures addressing abortion — the most on record for a single year. Before 2022, the highest number was four abortion-related measures in 1986.
In California, the ballot will feature an amendment to add reproductive freedom, defined to include the “right to choose to have an abortion and… to choose or refuse contraceptives,” to the California Constitution. In Michigan, a citizen-initiated measure would provide a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion, contraception, and other matters related to pregnancy. In Vermont, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment stating that “an individual’s right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one’s own life course.”
In Kansas, voters rejected a ballot measure declaring that there is no state constitutional right to abortion on August 2. Voters in Kentucky will decide on a similar amendment on November 8. Montanans will vote on a measure to state that infants born alive at any stage of development are legal persons and require medical care to be provided to them.
BlueGuitarist
Ballotpedia
Marijuana: Measures to legalize marijuana for recreational use are on the ballot in five states.
Heading into November, marijuana is legal in 19 states and D.C. Of those 19 states, 12 and D.C. had legalized marijuana through the ballot measure process.
In 2022, five more states will decide on marijuana legalization ballot measures. In the central U.S., voters in Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota will consider citizen-initiated measures to legalize marijuana. In Maryland, the state Legislature voted to put the issue before voters.
CaseyL
@WaterGirl: Washington state actually does put out a voters pamphlet, and it’s fantastic. I have relied on these for decades.
Also, FYI, the two “advisory” items you mentioned are legacies of Tim Eyman, the RW grifter who did his best to make Washington ungovernable by (among other things) sponsoring and getting passed an initiative requiring “advisory” votes on any tax that the voters had not themselves approved by direct ballot. Thus these two items, which thanks the FSM are non-binding.
His other great initiative reduced car tab fees to $30 back in the 90s (IIRC), thus kicking the legs out from under the state’s Transportation funding.
BlueGuitarist
Ballotpedia
Voting-related policies: Voters in seven states will decide on ballot measures to change voting-related policies.
Changes to state initiative processes: Voters in four states will decide on legislative proposals to change citizen-initiated ballot measure processes this year.
Amendments on enslavement, servitude, and criminal punishment: As of October 2022, 20 state constitutions included language permitting enslavement or servitude as criminal punishments or debt payments; in November, voters in five states will decide on repealing such language.
Betty Cracker
Florida’s chapter of the League of Women Voters publishes a guide on proposed amendments (that’s what ballot initiatives are called here) each election year. Here’s their take on this year’s crop. I assume LWV chapters in other states do too.
The Moar You Know
I routinely vote no on all CA propositions, but will be making one exception this cycle for #1.
2liberal
@oatler: re: AZ Prop 308
Its got a yes rating from progressive policy group FWIW
Proposition 308 would allow Arizona Dreamers to pay the same college tuition rate as their fellow Arizona high school graduates.
Endorsed By ACLU of Arizona, Aliento, Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Arizona Education Association, Arizona Students Association, Children’s Action Alliance, LUCHA, Mi Familia Vota, One Arizona, Our Voice, Our Vote, Rural Arizona Action
NotMax
Do not live there so have no skin in the game, but strikes me from one angle viewing from afar that a Yes on CA Prop 1 is a pro-choice vote while a Yes on Prop 31 is an anti-choice vote. Different choices to be sure (and absolutely not claiming they are equivalent), just an observation.
WaterGirl
@Anonymous At Work: If you could write that up with more information and include resources for Arkansas and FL, that would be great.
WaterGirl
@Betty Cracker: is it fair to assume that the League of Women voters take would be the same as a progressive take? I really have no idea.
NotMax
Topic ties in with something mentioned early this morning (blog time).
Slavery is on the ballot for voters in 5 U.S. states.
Mousebumples
Wisconsin doesn’t have the ability to do binding statewide props – despite Ron Johnson’s claims that that is how abortion should be decided at the state level.
I had local requests about clean water, increased school funding, and police funding, but nothing statewide.
Betty Cracker
@WaterGirl: They’re officially nonpartisan, but as a reality-based and civic-minded group, they tend to be progressive by default. I think I’ve disagreed with their take on amendments a time or two, but I’ve always thought their description of the potential effects of the proposal was fair, and their logic for their recommendation has always been sound in my experience, even when I didn’t ultimately find it persuasive.
WaterGirl
@BlueGuitarist: That’s very helpful, thanks!
Soprano2
@WaterGirl: Geez, didn’t know there were that many
It’s a good idea, most people don’t know squat about these things.
WaterGirl
Is anyone willing to sign up to do the write-up for these states?
11 AL 10 Amendment, 1 Question
1 AK Ballot Measure
10 AZ Proposition
4 AR issue
7 CA Proposition
11 CO 3 Amendments, 8 propositions
1 CT question
3 FL Amendment
4 GA 2 Amendment, 2 Referendum
2 ID 1 Advisory Ballot, 1 Constitutional Amendment
1 IL Amendment
1 IA Amendment
2 KS Amendment
2 KY Amendment
8 LA Amendment
5 MD question
4 MA question
3 MI question
5 MO 4 Amendment, 1 Convention Question
2 MT
3 NE 1 Amendment 2 Initiative
2 NH 1 Amendment, 1 Convention Question
3 NV question
6 NM 3 Question 3 Amendment
1 NY proposal
2 ND
2 OH issue
4 OR Measure
3 RI question
2 SC Amendment
2 SD 1 Amendment 1 Initiated Measure
4 TN Amendment
1 UT Amendment
2 VT Proposal
2 WA Advisory Vote
4 WV Amendment
2 WY Amendment
Major Major Major Major
Good idea!
NY state one seems like a pretty straightforward yes, although given our infrastructure costs it will probably result in protecting two square feet of a marsh somewhere.
If people want to write about their city initiatives, that would be rad too.
Starfish
Damnit. Why are you assigning homework, WaterGirl?
Statewide Measures in Colorado as suggested by the Colorado State Senate President who represents my part of the state
YES on Amendment D
YES on Amendment E
NO on Amendment F
YES on Proposition FF
YES on Proposition GG
NO on Proposition 121
NO on Proposition 122
NO on Proposition 123
NO on Proposition 124
NO on Proposition 125
NO on Proposition 126
NotMax
Whole raft of county-specific measures on the ballot in the Aloha State (15 in Maui county alone!).
BTW, courts in Hawaii in the past ruled that any question on a ballot which is left blank by the voter be tallied as a No vote.
Dupe1970
Texas Tribune has a voter guide: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/08/texas-voting-elections-2022/
WaterGirl
@Dupe1970: I think John’s goal here is to have a one-stop simple recommendation for each state.
CaseyL
@WaterGirl: I honestly don’t think you need to do Washington’s. We have voter’s pamphlets, and I think anyone who reads BJ knows to vote against the “advisory” items.
Martin
I’ll do California’s. Is there a format you want, or should I use my best judgement?
TerryTime
Michigan
Yes on Proposal 1 for changes to term limits and financial disclosure.
Yes on Proposal 2 for expanded access to the vote
Yes on Proposal 3 for reproductive freedom
Don K
@WaterGirl:
You got it right for MI. I voted Y on all three.
PaulB
Actually, we should be voting for the items. More specifically, voting to “maintain” the tax increase that the legislature had enacted rather than “repeal.” It doesn’t really matter, of course, since the vote is non-binding and the legislature doesn’t pay any attention to these votes.
It took far too long to shut down that asshole, Tim Eyman. If he hadn’t been so greedy, he could easily have milked that scam of his for years longer than he did. He had a good thing going, making hundreds of thousands of dollars writing his bullshit initiatives, but his campaign finance violations finally did him in.
JaySinWA
@CaseyL: Sorry, I reflexively vote “maintain” in Advisory positions, voting “repeal” is just an ineffective protest vote against your elected government. [ETA or what PaulB said.]
In other news there is a King County charter amendment to change election years for county officers and City of Seattle voting propositions 1a and 1b that appear to be local ranked choice voting options.
ETA King county contains Seattle and is the largest county in WA with 30% of the population.
prostratedragon
Just one in Illinois, but it seems like a big one: Right to Collective Bargaining as an amendment to the State constitution.
Sorry, I’m desperate for this food I have here, but here’s a quote:
Hawaii, Missouri(!), and New York have partially similar measures.
trollhattan
@pacem appellant:
In sync excepting leaning to yes on CA 29, because I only see medical corporations who own existing clinics fighting it as an assault on their bottom line. “A nurse? On site? You monsters!”
It keeps coming up and failing, for whatever reason, guessing it’s easy to craft heartstring tugging ads against but perhaps there’s a nuance I’m missing.
I will really, really not miss the warring Props 26 and 27 ads.
DaBunny42
@prostratedragon: Republicans are evidently terrified of this one. They’re circulating material that claims, “AMENDMENT 1 WOULD GUARANTEE $2,100 PROPERTY TAX HIKE FOR TYPICAL ILLINOIS FAMILY”. They don’t talk about what the actual amendment is, just that it’d raise taxes.
Anyone in Illinois should vote yes.
Big R
@WaterGirl: i can offer up a write-up of Kansas. I’ve already done a piece on question 1.
Edited to add: I’m not opposed to doing Alabama if nobody else wants them.
JaySinWA
@JaySinWA: Links for King County / Seattle Voting issues
WA KIng County move officer elections to even years
WA Seattle Proposition 1A and 1B Voting in City Primary elections
WaterGirl
@Martin: I think you can choose your format, but I will also look up the CA post from last year so you can model after that if you want, or change it up.
I will look now
Okay, found the link for CA from last year
Also, see JaneE in the comment just below this one.
JaneE
The California Official Voters Information Guide does a really nice job of presenting information about the propositions/referendums/constitutional amendments. Maybe lifting the summaries would be a quick way to get the information about the propositions and then do recommendations.
WaterGirl
@Big R: That’s great!
I’ll put you down for Kansas and Alabama, and if someone clamors for Alabama, I will let you know. :-)
WaterGirl
@DaBunny42: Yeah, that property tax bullshit was on the neighborhood list. What a load of crap.
WaterGirl
@TerryTime: Thanks for that. We are also asking for people to show their work, ie explain the reasoning behind the “vote yes” or “vote no”.
realbtl
Re: the 2 Montana issues. The only thing one needs to know is they were put on the ballot by our crazy RW state legislature, probably to try and remove their fingerprints.
Madeleine
There are probably good summaries of the MI proposals at BridgeMI but I can’t check right now ‘cuz I’m on hold with Delta Airlines. Marion
Yutsano
I am once again annoyed at the Washington initiatives. All tax increases passed by the legislature require a vote of approval at the next election. The only votes are for a tax increase on aircraft fuel. Yet again avoiding the elegant solution of just passing a damn income tax.
Roger Moore
@The Moar You Know:
You should also vote yes on 31, which is a referendum rather than an initiative. That means it’s an attempt by the tobacco industry to overturn a law passed by the state legislature that outlaws most forms of flavored tobacco. The original law is a good one, and you should vote yes to keep it.
I think this is a bad aspect of the referendum process. Most people, like you, have a natural tendency to vote no on any measure they’re unsure about. That makes some sense most of the time, but it’s backward when it comes to referenda. In that case, voting yes is the option to do nothing and no is the option to interfere with the normal way the government works.
NotMax
@Yutsano
Hmm. Technically, drones are aircraft and may be fueled by electricity.
Just sayin’.
Gravenstone
@DaBunny42: I’m confused how banishing “right to work” laws would impact (checks notes) … property taxes?
Of course, that’s the entire point of the Republican lie.
trollhattan
@NotMax: D’ja no piston aircraft gas is still leaded? Seems kinda shitty they can still spew poisonous heavy metal decades after we eliminated it from cars.
trollhattan
Presume this will pick up a few Republican voters for Crist.
“Domestic violence? Sounds like my kinda guy.”
Timill
TN amendments:
The four proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution on the Nov. 8 ballot:
Amendment 1 adds existing “right-to-work” law to the Constitution. I’m against it, but it’s no change either way.
Amendment 2 is basically housekeeping: adds stuff about what happens when the Governor is unable to continue. It’s pretty much the 25th Amendment, but for the State. I’m in favor of this one.
Amendment 3 bans slavery or involuntary servitude. This amendment would change the current language in article I, section 33 of the Tennessee Constitution, which says that slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a person who has been duly convicted of crime, are forever prohibited in this State. The amendment would delete this current language and replace it with the following language: “Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime.” Again, I’m in favor of this one.
Amendment 4 would delete article IX, section 1 of the Tennessee Constitution, which prohibits ministers of the gospel and priests of any denomination from holding a seat in either House of the legislature. This is widely ignored, and the legislature want it removed. In general, I’m in favor of removing dead laws, but in this case I think the separation of Church and State means that it should be retained and enforced.
I suspect it was originally anti-black, to keep pastors out of elected office.
Linky thingy: https://sos.tn.gov/amendments
rikyrah
Michigan has Abortion and Voting Rights on the ballot.
Five States will have votes on slavery. Yes. Slavery.
rikyrah
Illinois has a real right-to-organize Amendment to the Illinois Constitution:
Of course the other side is running ads as to how this will increase your property taxes.
Uh huh
Uh huh
JaySinWA
Wrong and wrong, The vote is required but non binding. You don’t get a say in whether it happens and there are two tax related issues,
Adv Vote 39 is the aviation fuel tax
Adv Vote 40 is to tax “transportation network companies” to pay for “workers compensation” claims.
And yes income tax has been a third rail of WA politics for as long as I can remember. Until someone figures out a total tax reform bill that can be marketed, WA income tax won’t happen.
VFX Lurker
@pacem appellant:
@Origuy:
My one qualm with Prop 30 is that Lyft bankrolled it ($45 million out of the $47 million “for” Prop 30). This isn’t the first time a ride share company tinkered with California law via our proposition system.
I, too, am a HELL YES on Prop 1.
trollhattan
As in, declaring it “awesome”? I’m confused as to how it can be dragged before voters.
Tennessee or Alabama formally declaring the Civil War is henceforth the “War of Northern Aggression” would not surprise me even a little.
trollhattan
@VFX Lurker: You’re right, forgot the little detail that rideshare companies get to the trough if CA Prop 30 passes.
Guess I’m still pondering this one.
Anonymous At Work
@WaterGirl: Give me a few days to revise and enhance. AKA do my day job in my free time on local politics as opposed to regulatory law.
Anonymous At Work
@Betty Cracker: Yeah, their take on all 3 Florida Amendments is reasonable. I have a pet peeve about how Florida does a ton of Amendments on tax issues that should be legislated instead. Every other year feels like there are 2 or 3 micro-tweaks.
And their take on Amendment 2 is fair. “We can reform a reformist measure taken over by anti-government trolls in service to plutocrats” is a statement of profound optimism.
CaseyL
@PaulB: Gah. Yes, vote to keep the tax in place; do not repeal.
My bad: I just meant, “Vote against whatever it is Eyman supports.”‘
Roger Moore
@trollhattan:
My understanding is a number of states have constitutional provisions that allow slavery as punishment for a crime, and the ballot measures are to eliminate that. It’s more tinkering than anything, but at least it isn’t harmful in any way.
Geminid
@WaterGirl: I’ll be interested in seeing how Nevada Question #3, top five ranked choice voting, does. I think it has to pass twice to become law.
When I look at Alaska’s new top four ranked choice system, I go hmm, I wonder how that will work out. But when I look at the Nevada proposal I say to myself, five is too many!
So I’d probably vote against it. I think we’ll see a lot of similar proposals though, because an outfit called Fight for Five is pushing this model nationwide.
Teoconut
Here is a little more back story about the origins of California Prop 30. Lyft and IBEW were later financial backers, the the originators were California climate leaders from SPUR, Greenbelt Alliance, Transform, Build it Green, California Environmental Voters and the Greenlining Institute. https://www.transformca.org/post/not-a-cynical-corporate-scheme-the-real-story-behind-prop-30
Miss Bianca
@WaterGirl:
The Progressive Voters Guide is pretty good on Colorado’s ballot initiatives.
@Starfish: Or, you know, what you said.
West of the Cascades
@WaterGirl:
New Mexico does not have voter-initiated initiatives – so the three proposed constitutional amendments are “legislatively-referred constitutional amendments.” How to vote:
Yes – Issues $24,470,000 in bonds for senior citizen facility improvements
Yes – Issues $19,266,000 in bonds for public libraries
Yes – Issues $215,986,000 million in bonds for public higher education institutions, special public schools, and tribal schools
Yes – a “yes” vote supports allocating 1.25% of the five-year average of year-end market values of the money in the Land Grant Permanent Fund (LGPF) to early childhood education and the public school permanent fund and providing that the allocation would not occur if the average year-end market value for the preceding five years of the LGPF fund balance was below $17 billion. The LGPF fund balance at the end of 2021 was $25.8 billion, although presumably this has decreased with the stock market performance in 2022.
Yes – a “yes” vote supports authorizing the legislature to appropriate state funds for infrastructure that provides services primarily for residential use—such as internet, electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater—through a majority vote in each chamber.
The NM constitution has an “anti-donation” clause that prohibits the state from lending, pledging credit, or donating to any person, association, or public or private corporation. There are already many exceptions that have been grafted onto this provision (e.g. for care of sick/injured people, veterans scholarship programs, loans to medical students, etc.) and this makes sense to help expand, e.g., rural broadband access and other infrastructure where paying (or otherwise incentivizing) private interests to expand makes a lot of sense.
Yes – this provision just ensures that a newly-appointed judge serves at least one year before facing reelection (e.g. currently, a judge appointed in April to a seat that expires at the end of the current year would have to face reelection in November).
VFX Lurker
Thank you for doing this. I was going to fill out my California ballot this weekend, but (no joke) I’m going to wait for your post. I greatly appreciate all of the information you post on California here in the comments section.
I will cross-reference your recommendations with the LA Times endorsements, the state/county Democratic parties, and the information on Voters Edge.
Albatrossity
Fresh from voting on the abortion rights constitutional amendment in the August Primary, Kansas has two additional constitutional amendments on the ballot in November. Both are efforts of our legislature, and since our legislature is fully fascist, that should tell you all you need to know. But here is an explainer.
I already voted, and I voted NO on both of these.
DanS
@WaterGirl:
The Proposal will raise 4.2 Billion that will be spent as follows:
$1.1 billion for Restoration and Flood Risk Reduction, including
$650 million for Water Quality Improvement and Resilient Infrastructure, including
$650 million for Open Space Conservation and Recreation, including
$1.5 billion for Climate Change Mitigation, including
$300 million for other projects
https://rebuildbydesign.org/new-york-state-resilient-infrastructure-fund/
stinger
Iowa voters: Vote NO on Public Measure #1.
It is a proposed constitutional amendment on the right to keep and bear arms that would make it extremely difficult to pass new gun control measures or even enforce existing ones, such as those preventing felons and domestic abusers from possessing firearms.
Carrying while under the influence ? A-OK!
Ban assault weapons or restrict magazine capacity? Require state purchase permits, owner licensing, or firearm registration? Require background checks or gun safety training? Allow tighter local restrictions? Nope, nope, nope, and nope! That would interfere with my “fundamental individual right” to Stand My Ground and Protect My Castle. That’s so much more important than public health and safety. /s
The local LWV has an op-ed in the paper asking people to
Vote NO on Public Measure #1
Madeleine
Bridge Michigan has a voter guide in which there is quite extensive coverage of the ballot initiatives (sorry about lack of link; I don’t seem to have the procedure worked out to add it). BJ helped support the effort to get Prop 2 on the ballot.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@WaterGirl:
Thanks for the links. It’s always helpful to see who’s supporting and opposing these measures to gauge them. All Republicans support these initiatives. Tells me all I need to know, especially the bail one.
Based on the info from Ballotpedia, I’d vote NO on both
WaterGirl
@DanS: Do you have an assessment on whether that is a good idea or not?
Starfish
@Miss Bianca: My state senator is opposed to psychedelics, while the progressives seem to support. I think I am opposed for now, even though it helps some people’s depression and something about ayuhasca and bipolar disorder.
Brachiator
@trollhattan:
Prop 30 is bullshit. People should vote no. The state legislature is already crafting plans for energy alternatives. People forget that it is extremely hard to undo or modify ballot initiatives. This one is a giveaway to Lyft.
More to the point, originally initiatives had to be narrowly drawn to address a single issue. Funds for firefighters? A deliberate attempt to mislead and tug at heartstrings.
Ascap_scab
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/22/us/prison-labor-slavery-ballot-measures.html
Voters in five U.S. states where slavery or involuntary servitude remains legal as a punishment for people who are convicted of crimes will vote next month on whether to ban the practices outright.
If passed, the measures in Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont could open a door for prisoners there to challenge forced prison labor, for which most are paid pennies per hour and in some cases not at all.
LiminalOwl
@WaterGirl: I volunteer for Massachusetts, unless it’s already taken.
LiminalOwl
(Deleted accidental duplication)
LiminalOwl
@NotMax: Ugh. Thank you; I missed the morning post.
LiminalOwl
@Starfish: Speaking as a MH professional: there’s some fairly good research on using psychedelics to treat PTSD. Psilocybin sounds the most promising to me; a lot of people are excited about ketamine, but as I understand it that research is questionable. (I’m also biased there by negative or nonexistent effects in the very small sample of ketamine patients I’ve known, plus reports from recreational users.) I’d be inclined to support legalization, albeit with some reluctance.
deianaera
All about Nevada’s three statewide initiatives – civil rights, minimum wage, and jungle primaries with a side of ranked-choice voting:
https://battlebornecon.wordpress.com/2022/10/23/nevada-2022-ballot-initiatives/