NationStates

San Lumen wrote:

Shrillland wrote:
What's wrong with raising taxes, which it ultimately boils down to, to a conservative? Well, let's see....

How would rewriting the constitution and restructuring state government raise taxes?

Because by letting the counties have actual authority over such things, they would have the right to raise property taxes. Also, the current constitutional limits on how high things such as income taxes can be would be superseded by the new constitution and whatever limits or lack thereof would be imposed.

Telconi wrote:

Shrillland wrote:
What's wrong with raising taxes, which it ultimately boils down to, to a conservative? Well, let's see....

Taking money from folks is bad friendo.

Nah.

Kowani wrote:

Telconi wrote:
Taking money from folks is bad friendo.

Nah.

Keep in mind this is someone who said the peaceful transfer of power shouldnt be respected because they disagree with the outcome of an election

San Lumen wrote:

Kowani wrote:Nah.

Keep in mind this is someone who said the peaceful transfer of power shouldnt be respected because they disagree with the outcome of an election

Citation needed.

Kowani wrote:

Telconi wrote:
Taking money from folks is bad friendo.

Nah.

In that case, I'd like all of your money please.

Telconi wrote:

Kowani wrote:Nah.

In that case, I'd like all of your money please.

For what purpose?

Kowani wrote:

Telconi wrote:
In that case, I'd like all of your money please.

For what purpose?

Buying cool stuff.

Telconi wrote:

Kowani wrote:For what purpose?

Buying cool stuff.

Such as?

San Lumen wrote:

Shrillland wrote:
Because, technically speaking, it requires amending the state's Local Governments Code, and the Texas Constitution has very strict requirements on what the legislature can do to that code. This amendment would let the legislature authorize cities and counties to let animals go to their handlers. Texas has one of the largest constitutions among the states, only the infamous Alabama Constitution and Micromanaging Clusterfuck is larger.

The Alabama Constitution is the longest governing document in the world. Many amendments deal with local matters as Alabama counties have very little self governing power.

Why they dont have a constitutional convention to rewrite the constitution is beyond me.

Compare them to Georgia, who’s constitution is only roughly 30,000 words and is second only to Louisiana for the most state constitutions.

Thermodolia wrote:

San Lumen wrote:The Alabama Constitution is the longest governing document in the world. Many amendments deal with local matters as Alabama counties have very little self governing power.

Why they dont have a constitutional convention to rewrite the constitution is beyond me.

Compare them to Georgia, who’s constitution is only roughly 30,000 words and is second only to Louisiana for the most state constitutions.

Interesting. The reason the Alabama one is so long is because county governments have very little power and need to petition Montgomery to do the most mundane things that is almost any other state they would simply enact them.

Another initiative to the Plaza from Colorado.

Colorado: This second proposal will legalise sports betting and impose a 10% tax on all net proceeds. This'll definitely pass.

Shrillland wrote:Another initiative to the Plaza from Colorado.

Colorado: This second proposal will legalise sports betting and impose a 10% tax on all net proceeds. This'll definitely pass.

Why are you so certain?

Im bummed that New York will have nothing for the Plaza this year. We might for 2020 though

San Lumen wrote:

Shrillland wrote:Another initiative to the Plaza from Colorado.

Colorado: This second proposal will legalise sports betting and impose a 10% tax on all net proceeds. This'll definitely pass.

Why are you so certain?

Im bummed that New York will have nothing for the Plaza this year. We might for 2020 though

It just seems like something that would pass...at the moment, I am guessing more than I should.

In the Dallas and San Antonio mayoral elections no one reached 50 percent therefore a runoff will be held on June 8th. Texas municipal elections are by law nonpartisan.

In Dallas, State Senator Eric Johnson and City Council member Scott Griggs will compete in the runoff. Both candidates are registered democrats.

In San Antonio, incumbent Ron Nirenburg will go to a runoff with City Council Member Greg Brockhouse. The incumbent mayor is a independent but is the de facto Democrat as he has lead a very progressive administration. Councimember Brockhouse is a registered Republican.

Interestingly the Dallas Mayorship is a largely ceremonial position as Dallas uses the council manager system of government. in this system the day to day things a mayor would do is handled by an appointed city manger. Dallas is one of the largest cities in the US to use this system of government.

Telconi wrote:

Shrillland wrote:
What's wrong with raising taxes, which it ultimately boils down to, to a conservative? Well, let's see....

Taking money from folks is bad friendo.

Having bad infrastructure, education and environment is worse friendo.

San Lumen wrote:https://www.greeleytribune.com/news/colorado-secretary-of-state-approves-petitions-paving-way-for-signature-gathering-in-galindo-recall-effort/

The Colorado Secretary of State approved the recall petitions for state Senator Rochelle Galindo. The new GOP party chairman says he plans to use them frequently which comes off as nothing more than a sore loser tactic. They can’t win at general elections and therefore want to exploit the system. Recalls should be outlawed in my view

A recall was effectively banned in the 2000 election and look how that turned out.

Gormwood wrote:

San Lumen wrote:https://www.greeleytribune.com/news/colorado-secretary-of-state-approves-petitions-paving-way-for-signature-gathering-in-galindo-recall-effort/

The Colorado Secretary of State approved the recall petitions for state Senator Rochelle Galindo. The new GOP party chairman says he plans to use them frequently which comes off as nothing more than a sore loser tactic. They can’t win at general elections and therefore want to exploit the system. Recalls should be outlawed in my view

A recall was effectively banned in the 2000 election and look how that turned out.

I dont see the relevance here nor do I understand your post.

Well, the major races have been called. First, the Democrats hold Bridgeport Central in the Connecticut House.

In Denver, both ballot initiatives fell, IO 300(urban camping) was overwhelmingly shot down with 84% voting no while IO 301(decriminalise magic mushrooms) was much narrower, being rejected at about a 55-45 margin against. No Overall Majority in the Mayoral race, so Micheal Hancock and Jamie Giellis will be going to a June 4 runoff.

In Indianapolis, incumbent Mayor Joe Hogsett for the Democrats and State Senator Jim Merritt for the Republicans both won their respective primaries as expected and will go on to November.

And that's the major ones for this week, here's my take on next week.

US House: The NC-9(Charlotte-Fayetteville) byprimary is next week after the November election was nullified due to allegations of absentee voter fraud on the part of the GOP Candidate Mark Harris. Harris isn't running in this primary, and the most likely Republican winner is State Senator Dan Bishop. Bishop has the Club for Growth and the NC Values Coalition backing him. In second place is Union County Commissioner Stony Rushing, 14 points behind Bishop, and in third at only 9% is former Mecklenburg County Commissioner Matthew Ridenhour, who has the backing of Rand Paul and the last Congressman in this seat, Robert Pittenger. Anyway, Bishop, at 31% in the polls has a semi-decent chance of avoiding a runoff. On the Democratic side is Dan McCready, who ran against Harris last year. He's already fighting for the close general election and burnishing his credentials as a Blue Dog, even going so far as to return a $2,000 donation sent to him by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar back in April. I can't say how the general will go as of yet.

And....that's actually it for next week.

Mystic Warriors wrote:

Telconi wrote:
Taking money from folks is bad friendo.

Having bad infrastructure, education and environment is worse friendo.

Debatable.

Telconi wrote:

Mystic Warriors wrote:

Having bad infrastructure, education and environment is worse friendo.

Debatable.

Well, good education means more opportunity for your kids, Tel. And that means a better future for them. But we need to make sure the schools are properly funded to make sure that they get that good education, unless, of course, you choose to go the private way.

Shrillland wrote:

Telconi wrote:
Debatable.

Well, good education means more opportunity for your kids, Tel. And that means a better future for them. But we need to make sure the schools are properly funded to make sure that they get that good education, unless, of course, you choose to go the private way.

I live in California, the state's idea of "good education" is probably not anything I want my child exposed to.

Telconi wrote:

Shrillland wrote:
Well, good education means more opportunity for your kids, Tel. And that means a better future for them. But we need to make sure the schools are properly funded to make sure that they get that good education, unless, of course, you choose to go the private way.

I live in California, the state's idea of "good education" is probably not anything I want my child exposed to.

But hey didn California produce Steve Jobs and Silicon Valley?

Telconi wrote:

Shrillland wrote:
Well, good education means more opportunity for your kids, Tel. And that means a better future for them. But we need to make sure the schools are properly funded to make sure that they get that good education, unless, of course, you choose to go the private way.

I live in California, the state's idea of "good education" is probably not anything I want my child exposed to.

I suppose not. What is your idea of good education? Mine is simply making sure that children are informed about their country and the world while making sure that they're prepared to go to college to look for the jobs of the future. Although having said that, we do need to have special vocational high schools added to the equation like many other countries do.

Shrillland wrote:Well, the major races have been called. First, the Democrats hold Bridgeport Central in the Connecticut House.

In Denver, both ballot initiatives fell, IO 300(urban camping) was overwhelmingly shot down with 84% voting no while IO 301(decriminalise magic mushrooms) was much narrower, being rejected at about a 55-45 margin against. No Overall Majority in the Mayoral race, so Micheal Hancock and Jamie Giellis will be going to a June 4 runoff.

In Indianapolis, incumbent Mayor Joe Hogsett for the Democrats and State Senator Jim Merritt for the Republicans both won their respective primaries as expected and will go on to November.

And that's the major ones for this week, here's my take on next week.

US House: The NC-9(Charlotte-Fayetteville) byprimary is next week after the November election was nullified due to allegations of absentee voter fraud on the part of the GOP Candidate Mark Harris. Harris isn't running in this primary, and the most likely Republican winner is State Senator Dan Bishop. Bishop has the Club for Growth and the NC Values Coalition backing him. In second place is Union County Commissioner Stony Rushing, 14 points behind Bishop, and in third at only 9% is former Mecklenburg County Commissioner Matthew Ridenhour, who has the backing of Rand Paul and the last Congressman in this seat, Robert Pittenger. Anyway, Bishop, at 31% in the polls has a semi-decent chance of avoiding a runoff. On the Democratic side is Dan McCready, who ran against Harris last year. He's already fighting for the close general election and burnishing his credentials as a Blue Dog, even going so far as to return a $2,000 donation sent to him by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar back in April. I can't say how the general will go as of yet.

And....that's actually it for next week.

The victor in Bridgeport central is 23 year old Antonio Felipe. He will be youngest member of the state assembly but not the youngest member of the legislature. That honor belongs to 22 year old state Senator Will Haskell who pulled off a huge upset against a multiple term republican incumbent last year

It’s rather surprising that Denver mayor Michael Hancock failed to reach 50 percent

In South Bend chief of staff to outgoing mayor Pete Buttigieg, James Mueller won the democratic primary and will be heavily favored to win the general election in this very blue city. He had Pete’s endorsement

City Councilmember Leirion Gaylor Baird won the mayoral election in Lincoln, Nebraska becoming the city's third female mayor and continuing a 20 year streak of Democrats holding the office.

I must retract a pronouncement from last night: Colorado usually has all their votes in within 45 minutes, but that wasn't the case here. IO 301 has, in fact, been approved: https://www.denverpost.com/2019/05/08/denver-psychedelic-magic-mushroom/

Magic mushrooms are now decriminalised in Denver.