Bad initiatives: the proposition thread

[The One]

Anyone else out there facing a poorly drafted anti-everything government initiative this November? This year in Arizona its Proposition 207:

http://www.azsos.gov/election/2006/I...sh/Prop207.htm

Again with the out of state interests trying to piggy back on Kelo emotions to make a quick buck at the expense of the tax payers and decent land use principles....as if we ALL haven't gotten the message about not playing fast and loose with emient domain, for fear of one of these turds in white dresses getting passed.....

Ok, like on the Iron Chef........The One screams the saying that the host yells at the start of the cook off....... BEGIN Discussion!!!

[zman]

Sooooo.... we're advocating the taking of land in order to serve the interests of Big Development?

Not sure what the problem is here, T.O.

Perhaps I didn't see the fine print

[The One]

If all Prop 207 did was to narrowly remove a specific problem with the use of eminent domain....no problem....but enough with the tack on crap and re-payment schemes and apparent vast expansion of regulatory takings

[zman]

"I see," said the Blind Man....

[otterpop]

A similar initiative is proposed in Montana. However, due to suspected improprieties by signature gatherers, falsified signatures, and deception on the part of the out-of-state paid signature gatherers, a state court judge has thrown out the initiative along with two others. His decision is being appealed. The Montana Supreme Court has stated they will expedite the appeal.

[imaplanner]

I-933 in Washington.

[luckless pedestrian]

TABOR in Maine because it's working so well in Colorado, right?

http://www.memun.org/public/MMA/svc/...R/problems.htm

http://www.taxpayerbillofrights.com/

http://www.cbpp.org/3-16-06sfp.htm

I'm basically screwed if this passes

[Whose Yur Planner]

If all Prop 207 did was to narrowly remove a specific problem with the use of eminent domain....no problem....but enough with the tack on crap and re-payment schemes and apparent vast expansion of regulatory takings

Like TO sez, it the takings junk that makes these bad propositions. NPR has been running a series about the propositions. Sounds like they are being funded by the property rights groups.

[Coragus]

TABOR in Maine because it's working so well in Colorado, right?

Our November initiative that mirrored this in Michigan just got removed from the ballot. The State Board of Canvasers said that the petition SOS (Save our State) passed around was disengenuous. They appealed to the state Supreme Court, but they refused to hear the case.

Head's up, they'll be back in a couple years.

[The One]

TABOR in Maine because it's working so well in Colorado, right?

http://www.memun.org/public/MMA/svc/...R/problems.htm

http://www.taxpayerbillofrights.com/

http://www.cbpp.org/3-16-06sfp.htm

I'm basically screwed if this passes

They tried Tabor here in Arizona (again) this year, but it failed in the legislature....thank goodness, I think they spoke to someone in Colorado about how well it worked there after the boom times were over..... Not to mention all of the communities that de-bruced recently (last several years).

[Future Planning Diva]

TABOR in Maine because it's working so well in Colorado, right?

http://www.memun.org/public/MMA/svc/...R/problems.htm

http://www.taxpayerbillofrights.com/

http://www.cbpp.org/3-16-06sfp.htm

I'm basically screwed if this passes

After a quick perusal of these links, I have to say the proponents of this law are a heck of a lot better at PR. The taxpayerbillofrights.com has simple, punchy text that is easy to digest right at the top of its page, while the other sites require one to read carefully and pay attention in order to understand the argument. As in many struggles, the political right masters the soundbite, and the moderate/left wallows in nuanced analysis.

The oppostition to this proposal needs to re-think how it addresses ordinary voters.

[vaughan]

Following up to what Otterpop said:

Our three initiatives in Montana (the "pay-or-waive" anti-regulation initiative, the "state spending cap", and the "recall judges initiate) did get removed. They're being appealed, of course, and it won't be a done deal until after the court system gets through with it and the election is over.

One good thing, in my opinion, is that the press here in Montana is really covering the fact that these are all funded by out-of-state folks (specifically, a millionaire in NY). In fact, our governor sent a well-publicized letter to the guy (along with a copy of the MT constitution), saying that he might want to read it over because we're doing just fine with this stuff...

My hope is that even if it gets put back on the ballot, the press is so negative that it'll go down in flames.