Arizona Ballot Initiatives '06

So here are Arizona's ballot initiatives for this year's election. In my last post I said we had ten propositions; I stand corrected - there's nineteen.

I've copied the wording of each proposition directly from the publicity pamphlet, followed by my own comments.

Prop 100: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of denying bail to persons charged with serious felonies as defined by law if the person has entered or remained in the United States illegally. Absolutely. There was once an illegal alien arrested on drug and weapons charges who made bail, was deported by the Feds while on bail, and he later returned to Arizona. Then he was an accomplice to the cold-blooded murder of a Phoenix Police officer. It was a very impressive funeral procession down the Loop 101 freeway - I was there watching it for a good half hour. My wife teaches in the school district that has a school named after him. Should have never happened.

Prop 101: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of requiring counties, cities, towns, and community college districts to calculate property tax levy limits based on the actual property taxes levied in 2005, and beginning in 2007 the new levy limit would increase by two percent per year plus any new construction. Yes, especially when you consider the out-of-control real estate market we had. My house is now double the value it was when we first purchased it in 1993. I don't see why I have to pay for a windfall I didn't create.

Prop 102: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of denying an award of punitive damages in any civil court action to a person who is present in this state in violation of federal immigration law related to improper entry. I have to say no on this one. If an illegal immigrant is run over by a drunk driver, why should the drunk driver get away with it? Besides, we're not experiencing a flood of lawsuits from illegal aliens as most don't have the means to go out and hire a lawyer to do so.

Prop 103: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of declaring English to be the official language of the State of Arizona, requiring all official actions to be conducted in English, requiring government to preserve, protect and enhance English as the official language, prohibiting discrimination against persons using English, and permitting private lawsuits to enforce the official English amendment to the Arizona Constitution. This was previously approved in 1998 but struck down as unconstitutional. Still, I have to vote yes on this. Hey, my ancestors had to learn the language. And they didn't lose their culture because of it.

Prop 104: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of permitting incorporated cities and towns to include debt for the acquisition and development of public safety, law enforcement, fire and emergency services facilities and streets and transportation facilities in the twenty percent debt limit, upon voter approval. A yes vote for obvious reasons. The publicity pamphlet did not have any opposed to this measure. Should be a slam-dunk.

Prop 105: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of allowing the conveyance for compensation of designated urban land and additional urban land as approved by the Legislature for conservation purposes, permitting the Legislature to designate up to 400,000 acres of non-urban trust land for conservation purposes for conveyance without compensation, allowing urban trust land to be conveyed for conservation without auction, reducing the advertising time for state trust land auctions, allowing rights-of-way of trust land to governmental entities without auction, requiring trust lands set aside for conservation be accessible to the public and restricted from development, and allowing local coordination of commercial trust land use. Say what? What exactly is the problem we're trying to correct? Too complicated. A pro-developer initiative which is not needed as developers have already screwed up the state enough. Things seem fine as they are now. I vote no.

Prop 106: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of setting aside 694,000 acres of state trust land for conservation, permitting the conveyance of Educational and Permanent Reserve lands without auction or compensation, permitting the conveyance of Provisional Reserve lands without auction, requiring local coordination of trust land planning in conjunction with the state, establishing a board of trustees to manage and dispose of state trust land, allowing public rights-of-way over trust land without auction at appraised value, allowing transfer of trust land before revenue-sharing payment and use of some revenues for trust administration. Same as Prop 105 - not needed.

Prop 107: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of amending the Constitution to require that only a union between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage by the state and its political subdivisions and prohibiting the creation or recognition of legal status similar to marriage for unmarried persons by the state or its political subdivisions. Absolutely - I have to go by own convictions. Opponents charge that health and death benefits would be denied for domestic partners. Companies are not currently required to provide these benefits anyway, and this amendment would not take away from those already fortunate to enjoy these benefits.

Prop 200 (Arizona Voter Reward Act): A "yes" vote shall have the effect of establishing a $1,000,000 lottery for voters who vote in the primary or general elections that would be funded by a percentage of unclaimed state lottery prize money and creating the Arizona Voter Reward Commission and Fund. Excuse me? Absolutely not - my vote is not for sale! This is a civic duty. I do not want people out there voting just because they might get lucky. This will only increase voter fraud. Mark Osterloh, chairman of Arizonans for Voter Rewards, has the gall to say, "What does God say? Do what you are supposed to do and I will REWARD you with eternal life in heaven. What are we saying? Do what you are supposed to do, vote, and we will REWARD you with a chance to win a million dollars. If incentives are good enough for God, they are good enough for the voters of Arizona! Oh come on! How can you even compare the two? A chance in a million to win a million? Don't insult my intelligence or mock my religion. A million dollars is nothing in comparison to riches we receive in heaven. Besides, anyone who believes in Christ will enjoy those riches without being entered into a lottery for the mere chance to do so. But, then again, if this measure were to pass and I were to win, it would be a nice way to fund a new organ for the church, or a new retreat cabin up at camp.

Prop 201 (Smoke-Free Arizona Act): A "yes" vote shall have the effect of prohibiting smoking in all public places and places of employment while exempting private residences, tobacco stores, designated hotel/motel rooms, veterans and fraternal clubs, Native American religious ceremonies, and outdoor patios and requiring no smoking signs be posted where smoking is prohibited, imposing a tax of two cents per cigarette pack, continuing to allow additional regulation by cities, towns and counties, and providing for enforcement by the Department of Health Services. This is one of the redundant propositions (see Proposition 207 for the kinder and gentler version of this). There are many municipalities that already have their own public smoking bans; it is inevitable that it becomes statewide. Actually, I'm quite disappointed that our legislature didn't have the balls to make this law without putting it to a public vote. This is an obvious yes for me. Opponents say that the state would be wasting tax dollars to enforce this law, but as you can see, the taxes would be raised by an additional two-cent cigarette tax. So I won't be paying to enforce it.

Prop 202 (Raise the Minimum Wage for Working Arizonans Act): A "yes" vote shall have the effect of raising the minimum wage to $6.75 per hour with certain exceptions beginning January 1, 2007, providing for yearly minimum wage cost of living increases, requiring employers to post notice about employee minimum wage rights, establishing penalties for violations of the law and permitting private lawsuits to enforce the law. I'm undecided on this one. There are good, strong arguments on both sides of this issue, with some definite economic impacts either way.

Prop 203 (Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Initiative): A "yes" vote shall have the effect of [1] establishing an early childhood development health care board and fund, [2] increasing the state tax on cigarettes (.80 cents/pack), cigars and other tobacco products, [3] establishing regional partnership councils throughout the state to identify childhood development and health services needs at the local level and [4] distributing monies and grants to eligible programs that serve children up to five years of age and their families. Another good program to help our children (Arizona doesn't do well in helping kids as it is). And again, with a cigarette tax funding these programs, I won't be paying for it. If I were a smoker, I'd consider quitting.

Prop 204 (Humane Treatment of Farm Animals Act): A "yes" vote shall have the effect of establishing misdemeanor fines and penalties for tethering or confining a pregnant pig or a calf raised for veal for all or a majority of the day in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down and fully extending its limbs or turning around freely but excepts transportation of the animal, rodeo and fair exhibitions, lawful slaughters, research, veterinary purposes and the seven day period before a pig's expected date of giving birth. Opponents are calling this measure (appropriately) hogwash. This is an initiative heavily funded by out-of-state vegans and other radicals. I know some farmers and know that they treat their animals humanely. My vote is no.

Prop 205 (Your Right to Vote by Mail Act): A "yes" vote shall have the effect of requiring a ballot be mailed to every registered voter and all elections be conducted by mail-in ballot, eliminating polling places in each precinct, restricting the use of polling places to a minimum number of countywide locations other than school buildings, and repealing the sample ballot requirement while retaining current early ballot laws. Hey, what about my right to vote at a polling place on election day? I absolutely do not support this initiative - this is certainly the most idiotic of all the propositions (although the lottery drawing for my vote is a real close second). I don't think that even our legislature would be bone-headed enough to propose this. 'Nuff said.

Prop 206 (Arizona Non-Smoker Protection Act): A "yes" vote shall have the effect of prohibiting smoking in all public places and places of employment while exempting bars that prohibit minors and have separate ventilation systems, private residences, tobacco stores, designated hotel/motel rooms, veterans and fraternal clubs, Native American religious ceremonies, and outdoor patios, and will prohibit minors in bars that allow smoking and will require no smoking signs be posted where smoking is prohibited. Even if Prop 201 doesn't pass, but this one does, I'll be happy.

Prop 207 (Private Property Rights Protection Act): A "yes" vote shall have the effect of [1] establishing additional rights for individuals whose property is taken by the government for public use (eminent domain), [2] defining "public use," [3] prohibiting the taking of property for economic development, [4] requiring primary residences taken by eminent domain be replaced by a comparable dwelling, [5] requiring compensation for property values reduced by land use laws, [6] requiring attorneys fees' in eminent domain lawsuits, and [7] allowing attorneys' fees in property value reduction lawsuits. I'm still undecided on this, but I'm leaning toward a yes vote.

Prop 300: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of making only citizens or legal residents of the United States eligible to [1] participate in state subsidized immigrant and adult education classes, [2] receive in-state student or county residency status for community college and university purposes, [3] receive state subsidized tuition/fee waivers and financial assistance, [4] receive state subsidized child care assistance, [5] participate in state sponsored family literacy programs; and requiring the Board of Education, community colleges and universities, and the Department of Economic Security to report the number of ineligible persons applying for these programs and assistance. I'm pretty sure I'll vote no on this. This again is aimed at our illegal aliens, but alas, I don't think that very many have the ability to take advantage of these programs.

Prop 301: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of making a person ineligible for mandatory probation if the person is convicted of an offense involving the personal use or possession of methamphetamine. Yes, absolutely. I'm frankly surprised that meth users do only get mandatory probation. Meth users are very dangerous to society. If your neighborhood has a house used as a meth lab, you might as well invite terrorists to come in and crash a plane.

Prop 302: A "yes" vote shall have the effect of raising State Legislators' salaries to $36,000 per year. Same proposition, different year - and different number (I think). You've got to admire them for their persistence. I might consider paying real money to our legislature when they decide to pass some real legislation (rather than tap-dance around the important issues). I'll vote no - again.