Monthly Archive for Initiative and Referendum
Initiative and Referendum Stories Posted in December 2007
Opinion: LTE: Give Independents more opportunities
Category: Initiative and Referendum · State: Pennsylvania · Source: The Morning Call
Regarding the Nov. 28 op-ed column by G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young, ''Reform without change is Pennsylvania's peril'': The reform agenda must include an open and inclusive, non-partisan political process. As more and more voters become Independent (35 to 40 percent of the electorate) we clearly need to restructure the political process to give Pennsylvanians more direct political control over policy making, government, and the culture of political life. We cannot depend on the Democrats or Republicans to reform themselves. They won't! Independents can be the driving force to break up the partisanship of the two major parties and invigorate our democracy.
TOPIC OF THE DAY: Budget gimmicks
Category: Initiative and Referendum · State: New Jersey · Source: Asbury Park Press
Gov. Corzine's asset monetization scheme is a folly of biblical proportions. Paying off past debt by borrowing against future income is foolish, particularly when that income is generated by increased taxes or fees imposed upon already overburdened taxpayers.
Opinion: Modified I&R could work
Category: Initiative and Referendum · State: New Jersey · Source: nj.com
Another election season is over, and the status quo in Trenton is pretty much intact. Yet the ballot questions showed that voters are clearly not content. Rather, people feel that they have no real ability to influence the direction of state government. Districts are carved to protect incumbents. Choices seem without consequence; neither party in Trenton has been able to deliver property tax reform or bring truly thorough and efficient education to our cities. The legislature is overly influenced by special interests, the courts step in with mandates, and the people feel they have no ability to bring about needed change. They feel that all they can do is send a message of discontent by voting "no" on more debt or more fiscal gimmicks.
Initiative filings lean to the right politically
Category: Initiative and Referendum · State: Oregon · Source: The Register Guard
Oregon voters may be asked to do something next year that the Legislature and governor aren’t inclined to do: tilt the state to the political right. With the Legislature in Democratic control and fellow Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski ready to sign its bills, conservatives are turning to the initiative system as an outlet for their goals of reducing government, curbing union clout and advancing their ideas on how the legal system should treat gays, illegal immigrants and women seeking abortions.
Other Monthly Archives for Initiative and Referendum
- December 2007 (4)