Familiar activists working on 2015, 2016 measures

December 9, 2014[edit]

Edited by Brittany Clingen

Familiar players are making headlines, with a group, 15 Now, targeting another city for a $15 minimum wage and an activist in Alaska hoping to put a second initiative before voters in 2016. Meanwhile, two measures in Nevada are one step closer to the ballot.

Two measures certified in Nevada:
Election officials in Nevada confirmed that enough valid signatures have been certified for two measures that may appear on 2016 ballots. A marijuana legalization measure and a background checks for gun purchases measure will both go before the Nevada Legislature in 2015. If these measures are rejected or if no action is taken, they will go before voters in 2016. Opponents of the background checks measure, including the group Nevadans for State Gun Rights, are still fighting to keep the measure off the ballot, citing "substantial compliance problems" in the petition filings. Don Turner, who is spearheading the effort against the initiative, said, "There's plenty of time to challenge the certification. We're probably going to end up in court."^[1]

Alaska activist proposes ethics initiative:
An Alaska activist who successfully landed the contentious Ballot Measure 1 on the 2014 primary ballot is once again attempting to put a measure before voters. The potential measure, which supporters are calling "The Bribery Stops Here Inc.," seeks to impose criminal penalties on public officials "who regulate or legislate competitive advantages for, or direct appropriations to their business partners, their clients, their contributors, and other defined close associates." The measure would also make it a class A felony for anyone to induce a public official to commit such an act.^[2][3] Supporters will need to collect at least 28,545 valid signatures over the next year in order to get the measure certified for the ballot.^[4]

Local spotlight[edit]

15 Now picks Tacoma, Washington, as latest target for $15 per hour minimum wage initiative: Following successes in SeaTac and Seattle, 15 Now activists have picked Tacoma as the next city in which to seek a minimum wage increase. The 15 Now Tacoma group submitted an initiative draft to the city clerk in November, and, after a brief community input period, members of the group can begin collecting signatures on December 20, 2014. They must collect at least 3,160 valid signatures by mid-June to qualify their initiative - Initiative No. 1 - for the November ballot. If approved, the proposed initiative would immediately impose a $15 per hour minimum wage on all businesses that make $300,000 or more in gross revenues. Sarah Morken, who is working with the 15 Now Tacoma movement, said the group wants to accomplish more for low-wage workers than efforts in SeaTac and Seattle did. She said the loopholes in the SeaTac measure and the three-to-seven year phase-in allowed by the "watered down" Seattle law are unacceptable to activists in Tacoma.^[5]

Other measures in the news[edit]

• Idaho Medical Marijuana Initiative (2016): New Approach Idaho has formed to push medical marijuana in 2016.^[6]
• California Legislative Control over University of California Amendment (2016): Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-33) wants to rein in the UC regents over tuition increases, administrative salary increases and increase in admittance of out-of-state and international students over state students.^[7]
• Florida Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2016): In Florida, voting rights restoration for ex-felons has been a partisan issue in the legislature. Voters might have the chance to decide the issue for themselves in 2016.^[8]

See also[edit]

• Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2014
• 2014 ballot measures
• Local ballot measure elections in 2014

Footnotes[edit]