|
| |
2008 Ballot Measures
Ballot Measure Forum: Amendment 59 - Savings Account for Education Wed.,
September 24 5:30 pm, Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Avenue, Colorado Springs, For
information: AHumble@elpomar.org
Ballot Measure Forum: Amendment 46 - Does it End Discrimination or Threaten
Equal Opportunity? Tues., September 30, 6:00pm. Colorado Technical University,
4435 N Chestnut St, Colorado Springs - For information: HankTWatson@aol.com
Ballot Measure Forum
Amendments 46-48, 52-60 plus Ref L Thurs., October 2, 5:30pm, Gay & Lesbian Fund
315 E Costilla St, Colorado Springs For information: FWinter@thewhitehouseproject.org
Election Forum: Amendments 46 & 48, Measures 200, 201, and 1A, plus candidates!
Mon., October 6, Check-in at 5:00pm; program at 5:30 followed by a reception
Carnegie Room, Penrose Library, 20 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, For
information:
www.citizensproject.org
Ballot Measure Forum: Amendments 47, 53, 55, 56, 57, Tues., October 14, 5:30pm
Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Avenue, Colorado Springs. For information:
AHumble@elpomar.org
Candidate Forum: All ballot measures, Wed., October 15, 6:00pm, Gay & Lesbian
Fund 315 E Costilla St, Colorado Springs. For information: Ryan@YourPrideCenter.org
Pikes Peak Progressive Events Calendar
Guide to Colorado's 2008 Ballot Measures
State Issues
Ref. O (C) Citizen-Initiated State Laws - Makes it more difficult to amend the
state constitution by citizen initiative by increasing the number of required
signatures to 6% of last general election for governor. Makes it easier to amend
statutory laws through citizen initiative by decreasing the number of required
signatures to 4%. Also, 8% of signatures would have to come from each
congressional district throughout the state. Protects statutory initiatives from
being changed by the legislature for 5 years.
Amend. 46 (C) Discrimination and Preferential Treatment by Governments - The
text of this measure is misleading. It states that it will "prohibit
discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, ethnicity, or
national origin in public education, hiring and contracting", but it will
actually ban equal opportunity programs that seek to remedy existing disparities
in access to public education, employment and government contracts. Race and
gender-based quotas and point systems are already illegal. It has been imported
to Colorado by California millionaire Ward Connerly and has passed in three
other states, with dramatic impacts. Citizens Project opposes this measure
because equal opportunity programs in Colorado are essential for a healthy
economy and a vibrant community.
Amend. 47 (C) Prohibition on Mandatory Labor Union Dues - "Right to Work"
Prohibits requiring workers
to join and pay dues to a union as a condition of employment. Takes away
employees' right to
democratically form a union of all employees.
Amend. 48 (C) Definition of a Person - Defines a fertilized human egg as a
person and protects the rights of such a person in the state Constitution. Does
not define moment of fertilization. Would criminalize common forms of
contraception including the pill, injectibles like Implanon and Depo-Provera,
NuvaRing, the patch, and IUDs and would outlaw in vitro fertilization. Citizens
Project opposes Amendment 48 because it is an extreme measure with dangerous
implications that imposes a religious belief through government.
Amend. 49 (C) Limit Deductions from Public Employee Paychecks - Would deny
public employees the ability to have their union dues deducted from their
paychecks. Would allow deductions from payroll checks for items such as Social
Security, Medicare, etc., and charitable contributions.
Amend. 50 (C) Limited Gaming in Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek -
Increases the bet
limit from $5 to $100 with 22% of revenues over that collected in fiscal year
2007 going to gaming
towns and 78% to financial aid in higher education.
Amend. 51 (C) State Sales Tax for Services for People with Developmental
Disabilities – Would allow a sales tax increase in 2009 of $.01 per $10 purchase
and another $.01 per $10 in 2010 to fund long term services for those unable to
care for themselves. Would relieve the backlog of 9,700 people currently on a
wait list for basic services.
Amend. 52 (C) Use of Severance Tax Revenue for Highways* - Changes the
allocation of the 50 percent of severance taxes on coal, oil, gas, & other
nonrenewable resources that is currently spent by the legislature on state
programs. (Recent allocations include loans for local water projects, regulating
mining activity; low-income energy assistance and wildlife conservation.) The
legislature's discretionary portion would be restricted to current spending plus
inflation, with the remaining amount allocated to a new highway construction and
maintenance fund. Priority would be given to relieving congestion on
Interstate-70.
Amend. 53 (S) Criminal Accountability of Business Executives - Would establish
criminal liability for executives of businesses found guilty of criminal
conduct.
Amend. 54 (C) Campaign Contributions from Government Contractors - Would bar
companies and
shareholders of more than 10% of shares, unions, and officers as well as
extended family from contributing to parties or political candidates for the
duration of and two years after the contract, if they have a sole
source-non-bid-contract over $100,000 to any governmental entity in Colorado.
Has the effect of prohibiting unions from participating in the political
process.
Amend. 55 (C) Allowable Causes for Employee Discharge or Suspension -
Establishes allowable reasons for employee dismissal or suspension, thereby
eliminating the ability of employers to terminate employees "at will," and
requiring them instead to show "just cause."
Amend. 56 (C) Employer Responsibility for Health Insurance - Would require
employers with 20+ employees to provide health insurance for employee and
dependents or offer participation in a new state authority plan. Also requires
the legislature to set up a state medical authority to administer the program.
Amend. 57 (S) Safe Workplace - Requires employers to maintain a safe and healthy
workplace, and allows an injured employee to seek damages in court, beyond
workers' compensation benefits.
Amend. 58 (S) Severance Tax on Oil and Gas Industry* - Ends the property-tax
deduction for the oil and gas industry that allow producers to take a credit of
up to 87.5% of the prior year's property tax liability from their severance
taxes. New revenues would be allocated as follows: 60% to the Colorado Promise
Scholarship Fund, 15% for local impact of the oil and gas industry on
transportation and water quality, 15% for wildlife habitat, and 10% to clean
energy projects.
*Some of the provisions of Amendments 52 and 58 conflict with one another. If
they both pass, the courts would decide how the measures take effect. It is
likely that the constitutional provision (Amendment 52) would prevail.
Amend. 59 (C) Savings Account for Education - Creates a permanent source of
funding for public education while preserving the right of citizens to vote on
taxes. Relieves the conflict between current mandated spending limits and
mandated spending increases. Eliminates the current requirement that state
funding for preschool through 12th grade (P-12) public education increase every
year and redirects existing tax funds above the spending limits established by
TABOR into a savings account for P-12 education. Citizens Project supports this
measure because fiscally healthy schools create healthy communities and because
it fixes the conflicting mandates for spending limits and spending increases in
the state constitution.
Municipal and County Issues
Colorado Springs 200 - Fees for City Enterprise - Phases out customer payments
to the City, except
hospital charges, and makes customer payments to enterprises - including the
Stormwater Enterprise
- voluntary. This makes Colorado Springs the only major city in the state
without a dedicated
funding source to responsibly handle storm runoff into streams, and jeopardizes
Colorado Springs'
compliance with major federal and state regulations.
Colorado Springs 201 - Phase Out of Enterprise Payments to City - Phases out
payments in lieu of
taxes (PILTs) from City enterprises to the City, and hinders the ability of
enterprises and the City of Colorado Springs to work together for operational
efficiencies. Has the effect of eliminating PILT to the City's general fund in
excess of $25 million, thus crippling vital services and potentially increasing
fees at
enterprises such as: Patty Jewett and Valli Hi Golf Courses, Colorado Springs
Airport, and others.
El Paso County 1A - Safer Community Initiative - Would add a one percent sales
tax ($.01 per $1.00
spent) to transactions in El Paso County, excluding food, fuel and medicine
purchases. Funding for critical health and safety programs has not kept up with
population growth, resulting in higher crime rates and more frequent incidences
of infectious diseases that local authorities are woefully under equipped to
address. Citizens Project supports this measure because it will help to
alleviate the public health and safety crisis
facing our community.
Measure 3E - Mill Levy Override - Allows Colorado Springs School District 11 to
raise funds in order
to strengthen educational curriculum by designating all funds to classroom
instruction. Funds will cover: expanding course offerings, increasing teacher
salaries, updating textbooks, expanding tutoring, music, art, and gifted and
talented programs.
Register to Vote!
October 6 - Last day to register for the General Election
October 28.- Last day to Request a mail-in ballot
November 4 General Election
|
