Week of October 4, 2004
I&R News
Round-Up
Updated October 7, 2004
This page contains a summary of news articles on ballot measures, along with
links to the articles themselves. It is updated several times a week.
Spending on Initiative Campaigns-California, Colorado
According to the Los
Angeles Times, spending on California’s 2004 ballot measures had already
passed the $125 mark by October 7. The Times is predicting spending
this year is on track to hit a record. The previous record was set in
1998, when spending for and against ballot measures totaled around $150
million. This year’s spending is highest on the gambling measures and the
stem cell research issue.
Colorado has already set a new record in spending on ballot issue campaigns
this year, according to the October 7 Rocky
Mountain News. Proponents and opponents of the four statewide
measures and two metro Denver issues have raised a combined $12 million so far,
topping the 2000 record of $11.8 million raised by nine issue campaigns.
Same-Sex Marriage Ban-Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma
The Atlanta
Journal Constitution (registration required) reported on October 6 that
opponents of the proposal to ban same-sex marriage have appealed their case to
the state’s Supreme Court. The suit contends that the measure violates the
state’s single-subject rule because it deals not only with marriage but also
with civil unions, and that the ballot question is misleading because it only
mentions marriage, not civil unions. A lower court refused to hear the
case on the grounds that the measure had not yet been passed, and the courts do
not hear cases on proposed law.
The Associated Press (Times
Picayune) reported October 6 that a state district court judge overthrew
the state’s recently passed gay marriage ban, on the grounds that it violates
the state’s single-subject requirement. The amendment prohibited not only
same-sex marriage, but also civil unions. The judge said that constitutes
two separate subjects.
According to the Akron Beacom
Journal, Ohio leaders, including both U.S. senators, the attorney
general, the mayor of Akron and the head of the state’s AARP chapter, oppose the
proposed ban on same-sex marriage. The Catholic Conference of Ohio has
announced its support of the measure, along with the secretary of state and the
state auditor.
Proponents of Question 711 in Oklahoma believe that their state’s same-sex
marriage ban is significantly different from the one overturned in Louisiana
this week and therefore safe from a similar fate, according to the Associated
Press (News-Star).
Tort Reform/Medical Malpractice-Oregon
The current and former governors of Oregon are sparring over Measure 35,
which would cap noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases at
$500,000. According to the Statesman
Journal, former governor John Kitzhaber, formerly a physician, supports the
measure, while current governor Ted Kulongoski, a trial lawyer, opposes it.
Gambling-California
Backers of California’s Proposition 68 are dropping their campaign in support
of the measure, according to the Sacramento
Bee. Prop. 68 would require tribal casinos to pay 25% of their
revenues to the state and abide by new environmental and consumer protection
requirements. If any tribe refused, non-tribal racetracks and cardrooms
would be allowed to install slot machines. Backers have already spent in
excess of $24 million. The measure is supported by racetrack owners and
opposed by tribes and Governor Schwarzenegger. There has been some
confusion among voters about Prop. 68 because of a second gambling measure on
the ballot-Prop. 70, supported by the governor and tribes. Prop. 68
remains on the ballot, even though supporters will stop campaigning for it this
week. The October 7 Los
Angeles Times highlighted Gov. Schwarzenegger’s support for Prop. 70,
which would require tribes to hand over 8.84% of their gambling revenues to the
state, and in return give them the right to establish unlimited gambling on
tribal lands.
Drug Policy-Alaska, Montana
The Anchorage Daily
News reported on October 7 that the group supporting Measure 2, an
initiative that would legalize marijuana, is one of the best-funded ballot
measure campaigns in history. The group has already spent over $500
million on TV and radio ads, brochures, phone banks and staff. The
majority of the group’s money comes from the Washington DC-based Marijuana
Policy Project.
The Missoulian
reported on the opposition of Scott Burns, deputy director of the White House’s
Office of National Drug Control Policy, to the proposal to legalize marijuana
for medical purposes. Burns is touring the state, speaking to law
enforcement groups about federal drug policy.
Transportation-Missouri
The Kansas
City Star ran a story on October 7 that does a good job of explaining
Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment that would redirect gas & high way
tax revenues from the general fund into transportation projects.
Immigration-Arizona
An anti-immigrant measure on the ballot in Arizona has significant support
among voters, the Arizona
Republic reported on October 7. 57% approved of the measure, 20%
opposed it, and the remaining 23% were undecided. The poll has a margin of
+/-4%. Support has slipped some since early September, however, when 66%
supported the measure. The measure would require immigrants seeking state
and local benefits to prove they are in the U.S. legally, and would require
everyone registering to vote in Arizona prove their U.S. citizenship.
Abortion-Florida
The Palm
Beach Post on October 7 ran a story about Florida’s proposed parental
notification requirement for girls under 18 seeking an abortion. The issue
has a long history in Florida, and this year’s attempt is not the first to pass
such a law.
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