Lists and commentary about 2010 ballot measures

See "5 Best" and "5 Worst" lists of 2010 ballot measures for 58 of 2010's most notable ballot measures.

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## Contents

* 1 Justin Elliott (Salon)
* 2 Josh Goodman ("Governing")
* 3 Paul Jacob (Citizens in Charge)
* 4 Dan Mitchell (CATO)
* 5 Grover Norquist
* 6 Footnotes

## Justin Elliott (Salon)[edit]

Justin Elliott, a columnist at Salon, published a list of "The five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives" on September 29.[1]

He chose:

Subject  | State  | Ballot measure  | Description

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Abortion | Colorado | Amendment 62 | Fertilized egg to be defined as a person
Affirmative action | Arizona | Proposition 107 | Government entities banned from race/gender preferences
Environment | California | Proposition 23 | Suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5%
Healthcare | Oklahoma | SQ 756 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance
Spending/taxes | Missouri | Proposition A | Cities with earnings taxes would periodically have to put up for public vote

## Josh Goodman ("Governing")[edit]

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2010 ballot measures

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Analysis • Issues on ballot

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Tuesday Count • 2010 Scorecard

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Polls • Comparisons • News

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Voter Guides • Campaign websites

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2010 litigation • "Best/Worst"

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Calendar • 2010 local ballot measures

Josh Goodman of Governing weighed in with "Four Ballot Measures the Political Establishment Hates" on September 24.[2]

He chose:

Subject  | State  | Ballot measure  | Description

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Public finance | Colorado | Amendment 61 | Forbid debt by loans in any form
Taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3%
Property rights | Florida | Amendment 4 | Voter approval required for all changes to land-use plans ("Hometown Democracy")
Education/spending | Oklahoma | SJR 101 | Mandates level of spending State of Oklahoma must provide to public schools

## Paul Jacob (Citizens in Charge)[edit]

Paul Jacob of Citizens in Charge published a list of "The 10 Measures to Watch" on September 26.[3]

He chose:

Subject  | State  | Ballot measure  | Description

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Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1098 | Tax gross income above $200,000/individuals, $400,000/couples, reduce property tax 4%
Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 26 | 2/3rds vote required to enact new taxes/fees
Healthcare | Colorado | Amendment 63 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance
Spending/taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3%
Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1053 | Re-instate requirement of a supermajority vote in state legislature to raise taxes
Campaign finance | Florida | Amendment 1 | Repeal of public financing of statewide candidates who agree to spending limits
Alcohol | Washington | I-1100 | Privatize state liquor stores
Marijuana | California | Proposition 19 | Legalize marijuana
Environment | California | Proposition 23 | Suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5%
Smoking | South Dakota | Referred Law 12 | Statewide smoking ban including in bars, casinos

## Dan Mitchell (CATO)[edit]

Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute, who has been described as "a high priest of light tax, small state libertarianism," published a list on October 27 of "Nine Key Ballot Initiatives to Watch," saying, "While everyone is focused on whether Republicans will win control of the House and/or Senate, there are several issues that voters will directly decide that deserve close attention. Here are the nine initiatives that have caught my attention."[4]

Subject  | State  | Ballot measure  | Description

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Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1098 | Taxes gross income above $200,000 for individuals, $400,000 for couples, reduce property tax 4%
Eminent domain | Nevada | Question 4 | Make it easier for gov't agencies to use eminent domain
Marijuana | California | Proposition 19 | Legalize marijuana
Firearms | Kansas | Question 1 | Constitutional right for citizens to bear arms in the state
Healthcare | Arizona | Proposition 106 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance
Pension reform | San Francisco | The "Adachi Initiative" | Require city workers to contribute more to their pension and health insurance
Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 25 | Simple majority, not 2/3rds vote, required for legislature to pass state budget
Spending/taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3%
Labor/pensions | Louisiana | Amendment 6 | Require 2/3 vote to enact changes to retirement provisions

## Grover Norquist[edit]

Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform gave Ballotpedia a list of "The 12 ballot initiatives for fiscal conservatives to watch" on October 12.[5]

Subject  | State  | Ballot measure  | Description

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Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1098 | Taxes gross income above $200,000 for individuals, $400,000 for couples, reduce property tax 4%
Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 26 | 2/3rds vote required to enact new taxes/fees
Healthcare | Arizona | Proposition 106 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance
Healthcare | Colorado | Amendment 63 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance
Healthcare | Oklahoma | SQ 756 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance
Spending/taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3%
Environment | California | Proposition 23 | Suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5%
Labor | Arizona | Amendment A | Union elections by secret ballot
Labor | South Carolina | Amendment 2 | Union elections by secret ballot
Labor | South Dakota | Amendment K | Union elections by secret ballot
Labor | Utah | Amendment A | Union elections by secret ballot
Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 25 | Simple majority, not 2/3rds vote, required for legislature to pass state budget

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ The five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives Salon, "The five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives," September 29, 2010
2. ↑ Governing, "Four Ballot Measures the Political Establishment Hates," September 24, 2010
3. ↑ Townhall, "The 10 measures to watch," September 26, 2010
4. ↑ Daniel Mitchell, "Nine Key Ballot Initiatives to Watch," October 27, 2010
5. ↑ Via email communication with Leslie Graves.

v • e

2010 ballot measures

I&R States|

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Non I&R States|

Alabama • Georgia • Hawaii • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Louisiana • New Jersey • North Carolina • Rhode Island • South Carolina • Tennessee • Vermont • Virginia

Political topics|

(Certified topics only): Abortion • Administration of government • Affirmative action • Bond issues • Business regulation • Campaign finance • Civil rights • Constitutional conventions • Earthquakes • Education • Elections • Eminent domain • Energy • English • Firearms • Gambling • Government accountability • Healthcare • Hunting • Direct democracy measures • Insurance • Judicial reform • Labor • Law enforcement • Marijuana • Natural resources • Property rights • Redistricting • State budgets • Taxes • Term limits • Tobacco • Transportation • Veterans • Water

Other|

Scorecard • Petition drive deadlines • Polls • Litigation (Lawsuits) • Potential measures • Tuesday Count • Changes in 2010 to laws governing ballot measures • Official voter guides • Petition signature costs • 2010 ballot measure campaign websites • Certified but removed • Media endorsements • Not on the ballot

Post-election|

2010 analyses • 2010 election results • 2010 amendments to constitutions • Campaign contributions