2008 Election Coverage
Selected Ballot Initiatives and Referenda

Campaign Finance

Creates a voluntary program of public funding for state election campaigns where candidates must collect a certain number of signatures and $5 contributions in the area in which the candidate is running for office. Provides that campaign funding will be received from the state if the candidate agrees to the limits set, and a candidate may receive matching funds if he or she is opposed by a candidate that does not participate in the program.

http://www.elections.state.ak.us/petitions/07case.pdf

Rejected
65%-35%

Water Quality

Creates water quality standards for new large scale metallic mineral mining operations in excess of 640 acres in the state. Prohibits the release of toxic pollutants into water and the storage of mining wastes that could release sulfuric acid, dissolved materials or other toxic pollutants which may adversely affect human health or the life cycle of salmon. Provides definitions for toxic pollutants, including the list of substances identified under federal law.

http://www.elections.state.ak.us/petitions/07wtr3.pdf

Rejected
57%-43%

Property Tax, Transfer Tax

Prohibits the government from charging any new tax on the sale or transfer of real property in the state.

http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/Info/
PubPamphlet/english/Prop100.htm#format

Approved
77%-23%

Extends the existing payday loan licensing program, allowing it to continue indefinitely. Permits payday loan licensees to provide electronic debit agreement services. Prohibits services over 35 days, certain fees and arrangements with customers having outstanding repayment plans. Requires English or Spanish agreements and a payment plan if requested. Allows licensees to make other loans and requires licensees to maintain minimum and maximum net worth.

http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/Info/
PubPamphlet/english/Prop200.htm#format

Construction Defects and Liability

Provides that a purchaser of a dwelling must, at least 60 days prior to filing a dwelling action, give written notice to the seller specifying the basis of the dwelling action. Provides that within 30 days of receipt of the notice, the seller must send a written response which must include an offer to repair or replace any alleged defects. Requires 10 year warranties on new homes.

http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/Info/
PubPamphlet/english/Prop201.htm#format

Rejected
78%-22%

Immigration and Employment Verification, Identity Fraud

Creates the crime of taking the identity of another person with the intent to obtain or continue employment and the crime of knowingly accepting the identity of another person or entity. Increases penalties for identity theft. Requires employers to verify the employment of employees through the E-Verify program. Targets employers who pay employees in cash and who fail to make withholdings, who fail to make contributions for unemployment compensation and who fail to provide coverage for workers compensation.

http://www.azsos.gov/election/2008/Info/
PubPamphlet/english/Prop202.htm#format

Energy Efficiency Requirements and Incentives for Utilities

Requires all utilities, including government-owned utilities, to generate 20% of their power from renewable energy by 2010. Raises requirement for all utilities to 40% by 2020 and 50% by 2025. Creates the Solar and Clean Energy Transmission Account to purchase property or rights of way for renewable energy.

http://ag.ca.gov/cms_pdfs/initiatives/i735_07-0066
_Initiative_A1S.pdf

Employment Discrimination; Fair Employment Practices

Prohibits employers from requiring a person to join a labor union as a condition of employment.

http://www.elections.colorado.gov/
WWW/default/Initiatives/
Title%20Board%20Filings/
2007-2008%20Filings/Results/results_41.pdf

Energy Efficiency Investment Incentives; Tax (Green Building Incentives)

Authorizes the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit consideration of changes or improvements to residential real property which increase resistance to wind damage and installation of renewable energy source devices as factors in assessing the property’s value for ad valorem taxation purposes. Repeals the existing renewable energy source device property tax exemption.

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/
fulltext/pdf/12-4.pdf

Land Use; Smart Growth

Amends the Constitution authorizing the state legislature to provide for the creation and regulation of infrastructure development zones.

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/
2007_08/pdf/sr309.pdf

Sales Tax on Beer, Wine and Soft Drinks; Mandatory Deposits

Rejects parts of a law passed in 2008 that charges health insurance companies a fixed fee on paid claims and increases taxes on malt liquor, wine and soft drinks in order to alter the funding method of Maine's Dirigo Health Program.

http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming.html

Income Tax

Reduces the state personal income tax rate to 2.65% for all categories of taxable income for the tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2009, and eliminates the tax for all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2010.

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele08/
ballot_questions_08/quest_1.htm

Sales Tax

Amends the Constitution to increase the state sales tax by three-eights of 1% and dedicate the revenue to the outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund and arts and cultural heritage fund.

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us
/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2285.4.html&session=ls85

Energy Efficiency Requirements and Incentives for Utilities

Requires investor-owned electric utilities to generate or purchase electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and hydropower. Requires the renewable energy sources to equal at least 2% of retail sales by 2011 and to increase to at least 15% by 2021. Requires at least 2% of the utilities' electricity to come from solar energy each year. Restricts any rate increase for consumers for this renewable energy to no more than 1%.

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2008
petitions/08init_pet.asp#2008031

Property Tax

Imposes upon the taxable value of all real estate and personal property subject to taxation in the state a continuation of the current six mill tax on such property.

http://sos.mt.gov/ELB/archives/
2008/LR/LR-118.asp

Establishes the Healthy Montana Kids Plan to expand and coordinate health coverage for uninsured children under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Montana Medicaid Program and employer-sponsored health insurance. Allows the State Health Department to raise income eligibility levels for children under CHIP and Medicaid.

http://sos.mt.gov/ELB/archives/2008/I/I-155.asp

Eminent Domain

Amends the Constitution to enumerate a private property owner’s rights regarding eminent domain matters. Prevents transfer of private property to another private owner and would ensure the burden of proof of public use be on the government. Dictates that just compensation be the highest assessed value.

http://sos.state.nv.us/elections/
nvelection/pdf/2008BallotQuestion
Guide71708.pdf

Streamlined Sales Tax Project

Allows the Nevada Legislature to amend or repeal provisions of the Sales and Use Tax Act of 1955 without voter approval if the legislation is necessary to comply with any federal law or interstate agreement for the administration, collection or enforcement of sales and use taxes. Does not give the Legislature the authority to raise any tax rates pursuant to this act without obtaining voter approval.

http://sos.state.nv.us/elections/
nvelection/pdf/2008BallotQuestion
Guide71708.pdf

Corporate Tax; Income Tax

Lowers the state corporate income tax rates by 15%. Lowers the adjusted state income tax rates by 50%, except for one taxpayer bracket in which the tax rates would be reduced by 45% and for two other brackets in which some income would not be taxed.

http://www.nd.gov/sos/electvote/elections/docs/official-ballot-language-for-measure-2.pdf 

Groundwater

Amends the Constitution to provide that groundwater underlying privately owned land and nonnavigable waters located on or flowing through privately owned land shall not be held in trust by any governmental body. Provides that a property owner has a property interest in the reasonable use of the groundwater underlying the property owner’s land.

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/
ballotboard/2008/Issue3lang.pdf

Enacts, upon voter approval, H.B. 545 which imposes the following requirements on all short term lenders, including check cashing lenders: the maximum loan amount would be $500; borrowers would have at least 30 days to repay the loan and the maximum interest rate would be a 28% annual percentage rate on all loans.

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/
ballotboard/2008/Issue5Lang.pdf

Direct Sales; Alcohol Sales

Amends the Constitution to require customers to be 21 years of age and to be physically present to purchase wine at a winery, festival or trade show. Permits winemakers who produce up to 10,000 gallons of wine per year to sell directly to retail package stores and restaurants in the state.

http://www.ok.gov/~elections/sq_gen08.pdf

Building Permits; Electrical Licensure Requirements

Exempts owners of residential and farm properties from certain building permit requirements to make minor improvements, or those totaling $35,000 or less in a calendar year, to their property. Provides that changes to the electrical wiring of a structure or new wiring added to an existing structure must be performed by a licensed electrical contractor or the completed work must be inspected and approved by a licensed electrical contractor.

http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/irr/
2008/021text.pdf

Campaign Finance

Prohibits money collected with the use of public resources from being used for political purposes, except elections, official voter pamphlets and most lobbying. Defines political purpose as contributing to candidates, political committees, initiative or referendum committees or political parties, and as supporting or opposing candidates or ballot measures, including signature gathering for petitions.

http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/
irr/2008/025text.pdf

Background Checks

Changes the certification and professional discipline standards for those working as long term care providers. Increases training and criminal background check requirements.

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/
initiatives/text/i1029.pdf