Daily Archive
Stories Posted on July 17, 2008
Right-to-Die Initiative Making Its Way to State Ballot
Category: Right-To-Die · State: Washington · Source: Wenatchee World
Washington voters will find themselves at the center of a national right-to-die debate this year if Initiative 1000, modeled on Oregon's Death With Dignity law, makes it onto the November ballot. The campaign turned in nearly 320,000 signatures July 2, far more than the 225,000 valid signatures it needs to qualify. Already, out-of-state money is pouring into the campaign to pass the measure, including $315,000 so far from the Death With Dignity National Center, a Portland-based group that seeks to see the Oregon law replicated in other states. So far, the campaign has raised $1,124,000.
Court Rejects Challenge to Dog-Racing Initiative
Category: Massachusetts · State: Massachusetts · Source: Boston Herald
The state’s highest court has rejected a challenge by dog track owners who wanted to eliminate a November ballot question that asks voters whether to ban dog racing in Massachusetts. The track owners argued the proposed ban could not be put to a statewide ballot vote because it is aimed exclusively at the two places where dog racing currently exists: Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere and the Raynham-Taunton Dog Track in Raynham. But the state Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday that racing amounts to a matter of statewide concern. The court said the Legislature and the people have the power - through the initiative process - to abolish animal racing that involves betting.
Initiative Derailed by Wording
Category: City Government · State: Hawaii · Source: Honolulu Star-Bulltin
The city clerk says "no" to a citizen's petition drive trying to block the $4 billion city rail transit plan. The decision yesterday afternoon from City Clerk Denise De Costa means she will not put the issue on the November ballot, regardless of whether Stop Rail Now receives enough signatures. De Costa says the City Charter prohibits a special initiative issue from being placed on the ballot within 180 days of an election. Stop Rail Now organizers, however, say the clerk is wrong and they are still collecting signatures and are mulling over a court challenge. In the meantime, anti-rail organizers plan to continue collecting signatures that would also be valid for a special election scheduled at a later time.
Bid to Ban Gay Marriage Will Stay on Ballot, California Supreme Court Rules
Category: · State: · Source: LA Times
A voter initiative to reinstate a ban on same-sex marriage will remain on the November ballot, the California Supreme Court decided unanimously Wednesday. The court issued a brief order rejecting arguments that the initiative, Proposition 8, was an illegal constitutional revision and that voters had been misled when they signed petitions to put it on the ballot. The decision, reached in closed session during the court's weekly conference, cleared the way for what some observers expect to be a close vote on the marriage measure.
Opinion: Guest Opinion: Time for the Truth On Affirmative Action
Category: Opinion · State: Colorado · Source: Daily Camera
As an overwhelming number of Coloradans say they support a ballot initiative to abolish race and gender preferences, an opposition campaign designed to confuse voters hinges on half-truths and deception. Don't be fooled. The Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, which will appear on this November's ballot as Amendment 46 and reflects a decade long citizen-led effort, prohibits the government from giving preferential treatment or discriminating against any person based on his or her race or gender in public education, public hiring and public contracting. Under current law, government entities, including the University of Colorado, regularly divide candidates based on these characteristics.