{"id":12851,"date":"2008-09-17T11:42:59","date_gmt":"2008-09-17T18:42:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/2008\/09\/17\/colorado-ballot-initiatives.html"},"modified":"2008-09-17T11:42:59","modified_gmt":"2008-09-17T18:42:59","slug":"colorado_ballot_initiativ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2008\/09\/17\/colorado_ballot_initiativ.html","title":{"rendered":"Colorado ballot initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

BD<\/a> notes the current array of ballot initiatives coming up here in Colorado this fall<\/a>. I’ve really not paid much attention to them as yet, and don’t know much beyond the blurbs below. So my initial reactions …<\/p>\n

*<\/strong> AMENDMENT 46 – <\/strong>Colorado Civil Rights Initiative – <\/strong>Would prohibit the state from granting preferential treatment to anyone on the basis of race, sex or ethnicity in hiring, education and contracts.<\/p>\n

I tend to mistrust these kind of “let’s not reverse-disriminate” laws, not because philosophically I don’t think a color-blind society makes sense, but because they tend to be pushed forward by people who are anything but color-blind. Probably No<\/strong>.<\/em> <\/p>\n

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* AMENDMENT 47 – <\/strong>Right to work – <\/strong>Would outlaw agreements requiring workers covered by union contracts to pay fees for representation.<\/p>\n

As a person who was once in this situation (as a teacher in LAUSD) I have sympathy for both sides. That said, again, while philosophically this makes sense (why require people to pay for representatives when they do not choose to belong to the union in question), it ignores that those workers in fact benefit from union negotiations, and in arrangements like this would get a free ride. Probably No.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 48 – <\/strong>Definition of person – <\/strong>Would ban abortion by defining personhood as beginning at fertilization.<\/p>\n

If you want to ban abortion, then be up front and ban it, don’t play with semantics. While the whole abortion debate (internal and externals) is too muddled by emotions to make rational arguments one way or the other, my inclination is to vote pro-choice and let each person decide for themselves. No.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 49 – <\/strong>Public payroll standards – <\/strong>Would ban governments from taking deductions directly from employee paychecks for any nongovernmental special interest group.<\/p>\n

Read: union dues. No.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 50 – <\/strong>Gaming – <\/strong>Would allow casino towns to vote on whether to increase bet limits to $100 from $5, expand hours of operation and add games.<\/p>\n

I’m inclined to approve this, again from a personal freedom aspect (and aware that gambling can be a serious vice). And while (as BD points out) low-stakes gambling has turned the towns it was legalized for into “wall to wall mini-Vegases,” without it they would have been real ghost towns by now.  Probably Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 51 – <\/strong>Sales tax for disabled services – <\/strong>Would increase the state sales tax (by 2 cents on every $10) to fund services for those with developmental disabilities.<\/p>\n

I’m certainly in favor of funding services for those with developmental disabilities, and I certainly think it should be paid for. That said, I need to read more. Undecided.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 52 – <\/strong>Severance tax – transportation – <\/strong>Would allocate more severance tax money to transportation.<\/p>\n

Unknown. Undecided.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 53 – <\/strong>Corporate fraud – <\/strong>Would impose tougher sanctions for fraud committed by businesses, executives.<\/p>\n

Generally speaking, all for it. Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 54 – <\/strong>Campaign finance curbs – <\/strong>Would bar sole-source government contractors and unions with exclusive bargaining powers from making contributions to political candidates.<\/p>\n

Wow, what’s that, three anti-union measures on the ballot? No.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 55 – <\/strong>Just cause – <\/strong>Would require an employer to provide a reason for firing a worker.<\/p>\n

As an employer \/ manager, even within an at-will company it’s already difficult enough for me to let people go, even without a “just cause” provision, due to internal HR rules and wanting to avoid potential law suits. Probably No.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 56 – <\/strong>Health coverage for employees – <\/strong>Would require employers with 20 or more workers to provide health care coverage for workers.<\/p>\n

While I suspect this is one of those that will have unintended consequences, some action is better than no action. Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 57 – <\/strong>Safe workplaces – <\/strong>Would allow an employee to sue for damages in addition to any settlements from the workers compensation system.<\/p>\n

I want to read the fine print on this one, as it seems quite possible to be abused — but I think that all workers should have a safe workplace, and that it’s up to the employer to provide same, and if they don’t they should be held accountable. Probably Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 58 – <\/strong>Severance tax – <\/strong>Would reduce energy company tax breaks and use revenue to pay for college scholarships and other programs.<\/p>\n

It seems to me that energy companies should not get most of the tax breaks they have. Where the money should go seems a bit vague, but I’m inclined toward this. Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* AMENDMENT 59 – <\/strong>K-12 schools funding – <\/strong>Would lift constitutional limits on state spending and direct additional revenue into an education fund.<\/p>\n

Hmmmm … does this do away with TABOR? Or is it an end-run around current education funding baselines? Undecided.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* REFERENDUM L: <\/strong>Would lower the age of a candidate for the Colorado House and Senate from 25 to 21.<\/p>\n

I don’t see why not. Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* REFERENDUM M – <\/strong>Would eliminate obsolete provisions in the state constitution about land value increases.<\/p>\n

Awww … I love those obsolete provisions. That said … Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* REFERENDUM N: – <\/strong>Would eliminate obsolete provisions in the constitution about intoxicating liquor.<\/p>\n

See above. I’d like to read it first, though. Probably Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

* REFERENDUM O: <\/strong>Would increase the number of signatures required on petitions for constitutional amendments to at least 6 percent of votes cast in the previous election for governor.<\/p>\n

My experience with petitioned initiatives is that they tend to be reactionary and poorly written. I also think they are an important way for the population to be heard. Increasing the threshold (which in Colorado is particularly low) seems like a fine idea. Yes.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BD notes the current array of ballot initiatives coming up here in Colorado this fall. I’ve really not paid much attention to them as yet, and don’t know much beyond…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-elections-2008"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9695,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2006\/05\/09\/the_power_of_di.html","url_meta":{"origin":12851,"position":0},"title":"The power of direct democracy","author":"***Dave","date":"Tue 9-May-06 6:49am","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm not a huge fan of citizen-based legal initiatives. I think there's a place for them, but they tend to be poorly written and too easily rushed through bits of...","rel":"","context":"In "LGBTQ &c"","block_context":{"text":"LGBTQ &c","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/gay-stuff"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":137266,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2018\/10\/03\/my-take-on-the-colorado-state-ballot-initiatives-2018.html","url_meta":{"origin":12851,"position":1},"title":"My take on the Colorado State Ballot Initiatives 2018","author":"***Dave","date":"Wed 3-Oct-18 8:48pm","format":false,"excerpt":"We have a full ticket of amendments and propositions this year, including some in conflict with each other, and some that seem to interlock. I've read through the ballot guide from the state, as well as looking up info about who's supporting and who's opposing each bill[1]. This latter was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "~PlusPosts"","block_context":{"text":"~PlusPosts","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/blogging\/plusposts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/vote.gifimgmax%3D660.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/vote.gifimgmax%3D660.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/vote.gifimgmax%3D660.gif?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":160556,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2024\/09\/30\/colorado-ballot-initiatives-2024-and-how-im-voting-on-them.html","url_meta":{"origin":12851,"position":2},"title":"Colorado Ballot Initiatives 2024 (and how I’m voting on them)","author":"***Dave","date":"Mon 30-Sep-24 9:34pm","format":false,"excerpt":"Ballot initiatives are direct democracy. Here's how I'm voting.","rel":"","context":"In "Elections 2024"","block_context":{"text":"Elections 2024","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/politics-law\/elections-2024"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/election-booths.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":131696,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2016\/10\/01\/a-look-at-colorados-ballot-initiatives.html","url_meta":{"origin":12851,"position":3},"title":"A look at Colorado's ballot initiatives","author":"***Dave","date":"Sat 1-Oct-16 8:17am","format":false,"excerpt":"Ballot mailings and newspaper reviews of ballot initiatives haven't swung into full steam yet, but I want to tag this article before I close it. Note that the \"probablies\" could change, but are not terribly likely to.No. 20 - State Health Care System [Amendment 69]I'm going to stand silent for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "~PlusPosts"","block_context":{"text":"~PlusPosts","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/blogging\/plusposts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31259,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2012\/11\/07\/and-in-local-colorado-electoral-news.html","url_meta":{"origin":12851,"position":4},"title":"And in local Colorado electoral news","author":"***Dave","date":"Wed 7-Nov-12 7:29am","format":false,"excerpt":"Besides voting overall for Obama, here's what else went on last night in Colorado (of interest to me, at least): 1. It appears Mike Coffman has clearly beat Joe Miklosi to return to Washington in CO-6. \u00a0A shame, but on the bright side Coffman has been a proponent of defense\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "~PlusPosts"","block_context":{"text":"~PlusPosts","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/blogging\/plusposts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":131858,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2016\/10\/24\/how-im-voting-on-the-colorado-ballot-initiatives-this-year.html","url_meta":{"origin":12851,"position":5},"title":"How I'm voting on the Colorado ballot initiatives this year","author":"***Dave","date":"Mon 24-Oct-16 9:23am","format":false,"excerpt":"Our mail-in ballots came in the mail at the end of last week, and I'm going to try and get mine posted in the next few days.While I will likely end up voting a straight D ticket (either I have no basis for doing otherwise in any particular case, or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "~PlusPosts"","block_context":{"text":"~PlusPosts","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/blogging\/plusposts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Voting1.pngimgmax%3D660.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Voting1.pngimgmax%3D660.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Voting1.pngimgmax%3D660.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12851"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12851\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}