From the University of Southern California Law News Service
Contact: Gilien Silsby
USC Law News Service, (213) 740-9690 or (213) 500-8673
For Immediate Release
The Initiative and Referendum Institute at USC Releases Election Preview
Voters in six states will weigh in on 34 ballot propositions in November 2007, far below the 204 propositions in 37 states in November 2006, according to USC’s Initiative and Referendum Institute, which has published a state-by-state Ballotwatch overview and lists of the ballot propositions (For the full report, please click here).
Only four of the measures were placed on the ballot by citizen petition. Two initiatives (one in Maine and one in Washington) propose new laws, and two referendums (one in Utah and one in Washington) ask voters to repeal a law approved by the state legislature.
The other 30 measures were placed on the ballot by the legislature. At the midpoint of the decade, a total of 233 initiatives have come before the voters. The number of initiatives for the decade (2000-2007) now stands at 303.
This IRI report highlights key issues and lists all of the ballot measures state by state. This report will be updated if and when new measures qualify for the ballot.
TRENDS
Taxes are the most popular subject for ballot propositions this fall, with seven tax related measures on the ballot in four states. Most of the measures involve tax cuts or tax relief.
New Jersey voters will decide whether to redirect 1% of sales tax revenue to property tax relief (Public Question 1). Texas voters will decide whether to limit the appraised value of homes for property tax purposes (Prop. 3), whether to exempt vehicles used for business from property taxes (Prop. 6), and whether to provide property tax relief to disabled veterans (Prop. 9).
Washington voters will consider an initiative that expands the state’s requirement for a two-thirds vote by the legislature on tax increases, requires legislative approval of all fee increases by state agencies, and requires an advisory vote on tax increases that do not come before the voters on a binding referendum (I-960).
The lone tax increase proposal is in Oregon, where voters will decide whether to increase cigarette taxes by 84.5 cent a pack as well as increase taxes on other tobacco products in order to fund health care for uninsured children (Measure 50).
Bonds continue to be a popular funding source, as legislatures remain shy about raising taxes to fund new programs. Ten bond measures are on the ballot in three states, proposing to borrow a total of $10.534 billion ($134 million in Maine, $650 million in New Jersey, and $9.75 billion in Texas). The two largest proposals are in Texas: $5 billion for highway projects (Prop. 12) and $3 billion for a cancer research center (Prop. 15).
HOT ISSUES
In Oregon, Measure 49, sponsored by the legislature, seeks to weaken the state’s landmark Measure 37 that requires governments to compensate land owners when regulations reduce the value of their property. Land use has been a front burner issue in the last few years, triggered by Measure 37 in 2004.
Contact: Gilien Silsby
USC Law News Service, (213) 740-9690 or (213) 500-8673
For Immediate Release
The Initiative and Referendum Institute at USC Releases Election Preview
Voters in six states will weigh in on 34 ballot propositions in November 2007, far below the 204 propositions in 37 states in November 2006, according to USC’s Initiative and Referendum Institute, which has published a state-by-state Ballotwatch overview and lists of the ballot propositions (For the full report, please click here).
Only four of the measures were placed on the ballot by citizen petition. Two initiatives (one in Maine and one in Washington) propose new laws, and two referendums (one in Utah and one in Washington) ask voters to repeal a law approved by the state legislature.
The other 30 measures were placed on the ballot by the legislature. At the midpoint of the decade, a total of 233 initiatives have come before the voters. The number of initiatives for the decade (2000-2007) now stands at 303.
This IRI report highlights key issues and lists all of the ballot measures state by state. This report will be updated if and when new measures qualify for the ballot.
TRENDS
Taxes are the most popular subject for ballot propositions this fall, with seven tax related measures on the ballot in four states. Most of the measures involve tax cuts or tax relief.
New Jersey voters will decide whether to redirect 1% of sales tax revenue to property tax relief (Public Question 1). Texas voters will decide whether to limit the appraised value of homes for property tax purposes (Prop. 3), whether to exempt vehicles used for business from property taxes (Prop. 6), and whether to provide property tax relief to disabled veterans (Prop. 9).
Washington voters will consider an initiative that expands the state’s requirement for a two-thirds vote by the legislature on tax increases, requires legislative approval of all fee increases by state agencies, and requires an advisory vote on tax increases that do not come before the voters on a binding referendum (I-960).
The lone tax increase proposal is in Oregon, where voters will decide whether to increase cigarette taxes by 84.5 cent a pack as well as increase taxes on other tobacco products in order to fund health care for uninsured children (Measure 50).
Bonds continue to be a popular funding source, as legislatures remain shy about raising taxes to fund new programs. Ten bond measures are on the ballot in three states, proposing to borrow a total of $10.534 billion ($134 million in Maine, $650 million in New Jersey, and $9.75 billion in Texas). The two largest proposals are in Texas: $5 billion for highway projects (Prop. 12) and $3 billion for a cancer research center (Prop. 15).
HOT ISSUES
In Oregon, Measure 49, sponsored by the legislature, seeks to weaken the state’s landmark Measure 37 that requires governments to compensate land owners when regulations reduce the value of their property. Land use has been a front burner issue in the last few years, triggered by Measure 37 in 2004.
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