2006 Arizona Ballot Propositions

This year, there are 20 ballot initiatives in the state of Arizona. The more important ones include a minimum wage increase, amendments to make English the official language and to 'protect' marriage, and conservation of public lands. Also, there is plenty here to draw the xenophobic, Lou Dobbs/Minuteman types. For good measure, there are three propositions dealing with tobacco, one with meth, and one that would create a lottery fund for voters. Woohoo!

I would like to remind anyone contemplating these propositions that it is often easier to judge a piece of legislation by those that endorse or oppose it than by actually reading the legislation.

I have tried to do both in my analysis of these propositions below.

**Vote YES**

Proposition 101

House Concurrent Resolution 2056, Arizona Constitutional Amendment, relating to local property tax levies.

I won't pretend to understand this one fully. It resets property tax limits, as many local taxing entities have amassed "unused tax capacity". I do not own a house, so it is basically irrelevent to me. However, this is one of the propositions that "the Secretary of State's office did not receive any arguments 'against' ...". That makes it kind of hard to vote 'no'. I will likely vote 'yes' or abstain on this proposition.

Proposition 104

House Concurrent Resolution 2001, Arizona Constitutional Amendment, relating to municipal debt.

Like 101, prop 104 is endorsed by many and opposed by none. It limits the amount of debt that local governments can incur to 6% of assessed value of the district. Limiting debt is good, I will vote 'yes'.

Proposition 106

Initiative measure, Arizona Constitutional Amendment, relating to state lands.

This is the Conserving Arizona's Future Initiative, which is endorsed by Janet Napolitano and every environmental group under the sun. It will amend the Arizona constitution to provide for management of Arizona's vast state trust lands. Nearly 700,000 acres can be protected. This is huge, and it demands a 'yes' vote.

Proposition 202

Arizona Minimum Wage Act, initiative measure, relating to state minimum wage.

Prop 202 would increase the Arizona minimum wage to $6.75 beginning Jan 1, 2007. Tipped wages would be up to $3.00 less at the employer's discretion provided they provide sufficient paperwork proving the employee "customarily and regularly receives tips or gratuities". This is a no-brainer, I will be voting 'yes'.

Proposition 204

Initiative measure, relating to cruel and inhumane confinement of animals.

Prop 204 would ban inhumane confinement of calves for veal, as well as pregnant pigs. The opposition is from the only violator of what is a completely reasonable protection against animal cruelty, the farm lobby. It astonishes me that someone can spend their professional lives working with animals and not give a fuck about how they are treated. Simple greed. Vote 'yes' on 204.

Proposition 205

Your Right to Vote by Mail Act, initiative measure, relating to vote by mail initiative.

Prop 205 is the Vote by Mail Initiative, which would require all Arizona precincts to use mailed ballots as the primary means of voting. Vote by mail ballots would be sent automatically to all voters, likely increasing voter response, while virtually eliminating the need for physical polling places, saving millions in taxpayer money. Oregon has enacted a similar system and sees savings in the area of $3 million. Arizona could save even more. I will vote 'yes' on 205.

Proposition 206

Arizona Non-Smoker Protection Act, initiative measure, relating to smoking.

An alternative to prop 201, this act would ban smoking in all public places, but would exempt bars, hotel rooms, and some other locations. The opposition to this initiative confirms what I note below about the Smoke-free Arizona Act (prop 201), that the anti-smoking crowd is not willing to compromise. I will vote 'no' to 201, and 'yes' to 206.

Proposition 302

Recommendation of the Commission on Salaries, submission to the people, relating to legislators' salaries.

Prop 302 would raise state legislators' salaries by 50%. That sounds like a lot, but I can barely live on $24,000, so a 50% increase to $36,000 really isn't much. While I very much despise our current legislature for wasting as much time as they have on frivilous rightwing base-peddling doomed to be vetoed, maybe we'll get a Democratic legislature back soon, and I want them compensated. I will vote 'yes' on 302.

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**Vote NO**

Proposition 100

House Concurrent Resolution 2028, Arizona Constitutional Amendment, relating to bailable offenses.

Prop 100 adds a clause denying illegal immigrants bail if "the presumption [is] great as to the present charge". Basically, I think this says, if you're brown, you're presumed guilty. I will vote 'no' on 100.

Proposition 102

Senate Concurrent Resolution 1001, Arizona Constitutional Amendment, relating to standing in civil actions.

Prop 102 would deny standing in civil suits to any illegal immigrant. As another ineffective anti-immigration measure, I strongly oppose this amendment and will be voting 'no'.

Proposition 103

House Concurrent Resolution 2036, Arizona Constitutional Amendment, relating to English as the official language.

Another anti-immigration amendment, prop 103 would make English the official language of Arizona. I can't tell you enough how offended I am by the absurdity of this. Arizona is 28% latino, twice the national average. We border a nation that speaks Spanish as its official language. The English-only speakers of this state (and nation) would do well to learn the language of their neighbors. I will vote 'no' and reopen my Spanish textbook.

Proposition 105

House Concurrent Resolution 2045, Arizona Constitutional Amendment, relating to state trust lands.

Prop 105 is a stinking piece of offal designed to kill the initiative in prop 106, the Conserving Arizona's Future Initiative. This was written by the Farm Bureau, who is the chief violator of state trust land environmental restrictions. This demands a 'no' vote.

Proposition 107

Initiative measure, Arizona Constitutional Amendment, relating to the protection of marriage.

Nothing to say here; I'm against marriage. I will vote 'no', for I don't want it 'protected'.

Proposition 200

Arizona Voter Reward Act, relating to the Arizona lottery commission.

I really thought this was a Daily Show news bit when I first heard it (maybe I heard it on the Daily Show), but we have a ballot initiative to create a lottery fund in which everyone who votes is entered. A lucky voter would receive a million dollars. What kind of people vote just to enter the lottery? I will either vote 'no' or abstain on prop 200.

Proposition 201

Smoke-free Arizona Act, initiative measure, relating to smoking in public places.

I signed the petition to put this on the ballot when I was volunteering for Jeff Latas at the street fair back in the spring. I want this voted on because I want to see how badly the anti-smoking crowd is outnumbered. Prop 201 would ban smoking in all public places. Now, I don't want someone blowing smoke over my shoulder while I have a nice meal either, but I don't go to a bar for a nice meal, I go there to smoke in the company of others. This decision would be protected by prop 206 (above), but not under 201. Further, the argument for this proposition that I heard most was "what about the rights of non-smokers to be free of smoke?" To me, that is the same argument, epistemically, that christo-fascists use when claiming their right to enforce school prayer. I just need to know who is in the majority here. I will vote 'no' on prop 201 and 'yes' on 206.

Proposition 203

Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Initiative, initiative measure, relating to funding for early childhood development and health programs.

Call me a cruel bastard, but I can't vote for this. It would raise taxes on tobacco products, amounting to $0.80 per pack, nearly doubling the state tax on cigarettes to $1.98 per pack. I'm sorry, but that is just ridiculous. I would happily and immediately vote for the title of this initiative if it were funded properly. Why not raise gasoline taxes by $0.80? Because people would be fucking outraged, that's why.

Proposition 207

Private Property Rights Protection Act, initiative measure, relating to public use laws and eminent domain.

Prop 207 is bogus. It sounds great and is worded very carefully. However, its primary advocacy is Americans for Limited Goverment, which is partnered with Home Owner's Protection Effort (HOPE). Their main gripe is that their homes lost value due to zoning decisions for nearby military bases. When organizations as diverse as WESTMARC and the Sierra Club both oppose an out-of-state lobbyist's efforts, I will, too. Vote 'no' on 207.

Proposition 300

Senate Concurrent Resolution 1031, submission to the people, relating to public program eligibility.

Yet another anti-immigration proposition, prop 300 would deny illegal immigrants a variety of tuition and financial aid options for university education. I'm sorry, I'm still paying my goddamn student loans; why can't an immigrant have the same right to debt? I will vote 'no' on 300.

Proposition 301

Senate Concurrent Resolution 1033, submission to the people, relating to probation for methamphetamine offenses.

The 'war on drugs' is over; it failed. Please stop. Prop 301 would make methamphetamine the new front line in the 'war on drugs' by removing probation as an option for those convicted of possession of the drug. I will never use meth again; it is a terrible drug. But I will not support government incursion into personal choice of drug use. I will vote 'no' to 301.

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**Summary**

I hope that this helps some of you in some way. If not, it at least helps me think more about them. 20 measures is a lot to remember. This is one reason that I chose to use the vote by mail option this year. If it becomes a required method of voting, my girlfriend will be somewhat disappointed; she thinks of going to vote as a party time.

However, personal feelings aside, it allows for more time to research and come to an informed decision about these things. I would not be able to review the various statements about a proposition while in the booth. I am encouraged to with the ballot sitting in plain view, waiting for my marks. Either way, I appreciate any additional comments the readers may offer.