In a nation divided over color — red for Republicans and blue for Democrats — voters united around the country to pass and defeat measures at the ballot box. No grayness in the results, as in the presidential election. The returns are black-or-white.
Before the election, I highlighted Citizens in Charge’s fight against measures designed to wreck the citizen initiative process in Arkansas (Issue 3), Florida (Amendment 4) and North Dakota (Measure 2). I’m glad to report voters slapped back all three.
Last week, I celebrated the defeat of California’s Prop 16, which sought to re-establish racial preferences, and the passage of a myriad of state measures related to ending drug prohibition, including Oregon voters legalizing psychedelic mushrooms and decriminalizing harder drugs . . . as well as conservative Montanans and South Dakotans allowing recreational marijuana use.
A whopping 89 percent of Michigan voters passed Proposal 2: “A proposed constitutional amendment to require a search warrant in order to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communications.”
Illinoisans turned down a constitutional amendment giving “the State authority to impose higher income tax rates on higher income levels, which is how the federal government and a majority of other states do it.” Apparently, voters weren’t impressed by that ballot language pitch . . . or by the who’s who of politicians, public employee unions and special interests promoting it.*
California voters defeated Proposition 21, 60-40, an attempt to expand rent control, and by nearly that margin approved Prop 22, providing Uber and Lyft a Get-Out-of-Regulatory-Hell card.
Not every electorate was wise. Thanks to Proposition 208, Arizona will “impose a 3.5% tax surcharge on taxable annual income over $250,000 for single persons or . . . $500,000 for married persons filing jointly . . . to increase funding for public education.”
In other news, Mississippians voted themselves a new flag, and Rhode Island changed its name to “Rhode Island” — jettisoning the “and Providence Plantations” that has always been part of its official name. Back in 2010, 78 percent of citizens gave a firm NO; this time, Question 1 passed by 53-47 percent.
This is Americans showing our true colors.
And usually Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
* A short list courtesy of Ballotpedia includes: Governor J.B. Pritzker (D), who donated $54 million to the effort, State Senator Christopher Belt (D), State Senator Don Harmon (D), Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D), State Representative Robert Martwick (D), Democratic Party of Illinois, AFSCME Illinois Council No. 31, American Federation of Teachers, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago Teachers Union, Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, SEIU Healthcare Illinois, SEIU Illinois State Council, AARP, Chicago Jobs Council, Democracy for America, Equality Illinois, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Economic Policy Institute, Indivisible Chicago Alliance, Indivisible Illinois, Latino Policy Forum, League of Women Voters of Illinois, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Sierra Club Illinois and Think Big Illinois.
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