Well, folks, hot vax summer has officially come and gone, and the season ends at...about where it started. Yes, more people are getting shots, but the Delta variant has brought COVID back into fashion in a way that parachute pants can never hope to achieve. It's been quieter since last summer, and now the leaves are turning, the hideous second pandemic of pumpkin spice everything is upon us, and Congress is poised to consider a massive infrastructure bill that may lead to some of the biggest updates in social programmes in decades. In the meantime, states are facing COVID with varying degrees of success, governors and senators are jockeying for support as Midterm years draws ever closer, and we still have a good chunk of hurricane season upon us. And then comes the holidays with all that that entails. What will happen to America? Will Biden get his $3.5 trillion infrastructure plan? Will someone finally take some of the heavy burden of Kowani's shoulders(probably not)? Will the Texas abortion ban and resulting $10,000 hunt be stopped?
These questions
OK, Ok, we might get some answers in the weeks and months to come, so sit back, enjoy, play nice, and let's see if anything happens in Virginia come November.
here's Plebiscite Plaza 2021:
Prop 119 would create a new educational service for school kids. The LEAP(Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress) Programme would provide out-of-school services for tutoring in major subject, language learning assistance, vocational training, mentoring, and several kinds of support and therapy for children with disabilities or special needs. It would not, however, provide in-school instruction or programmes to make up lost school credits, nor would it provide anything that is paid for by private school tuitions. To oversee the programme, the Colorado Learning Authority would be established. It would have nine members appointed by the Governor with no more than five from any party. Their terms would last three years, and members would be required to either have experience working with children, be a parent of an eligible child, or experience working with nonprofits. There would also be four non-voting advisory teenage members chosen by the Board President and the Executive Director of the state Indian Affairs Commission chosen from tribal, charter, or other forms of private schooling. Besides overseeing LEAP, they would provide financial aid to children up to 200% of the poverty line to those who wanted private education, essentially creating a voucher programme. This would be funded two ways, first by requiring the state to transfer the same amount of money to LEAP that public schools get from mineral rights leases and taxes and making it TABOR exempt, and by an increase in the marijuana sales tax by 5% over a three-year period, bringing up to 20% by 2024. This would also be TABOR exempt. REJECTED
Prop 120 would lower residential property taxes from 7.15% to 6.5% and non-residential property taxes from 29% to 26.4%. It would also allow the state to keep up to $25 million past the TABOR cap to provide reimbursements to counties and cities that would otherwise lose property tax money from homestead exemptions. REJECTED
Amendment 78 would amend the constitution to transfer the authority for appropriating custodial funds(state revenue that doesn't come from taxes) from the State Treasurer to the State Legislature. It would also create the Custodial Fund Transparency Account within the state Treasury Department. All custodial money would go into that account, and public hearings would be held before any money gets appropriated to any purpose. This would be considered a TABOR-exempt measure in regards to spending, and all funding would be voter-approved. REJECTED
Prop 120 would lower residential property taxes from 7.15% to 6.5% and non-residential property taxes from 29% to 26.4%. It would also allow the state to keep up to $25 million past the TABOR cap to provide reimbursements to counties and cities that would otherwise lose property tax money from homestead exemptions. REJECTED
Amendment 78 would amend the constitution to transfer the authority for appropriating custodial funds(state revenue that doesn't come from taxes) from the State Treasurer to the State Legislature. It would also create the Custodial Fund Transparency Account within the state Treasury Department. All custodial money would go into that account, and public hearings would be held before any money gets appropriated to any purpose. This would be considered a TABOR-exempt measure in regards to spending, and all funding would be voter-approved. REJECTED
On November 13, voters will decide on Amendment 1. Amendments 1 and 2 are related to three tax bills passed by the state legislature that are contingent on amendments being made. This would create a new government commission to replace two older commissions, which were conditionally dissolved(the condition being this amendment passes). The State and Local Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Commission would consist of eight members and would replace the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers and the Louisiana Uniform Local Sales Tax Board. The new commission's goal would be to streamline e-filing and tax remittances. It would be funded by sales and use taxes, and all employees from the two commissions it's replacing would go to the new board in a year. Any laws regarding this new commission would require a 2/3 vote of the legislature.
Amendment 2 would reduce state income taxes for the top income bracket of over $50,000 starting in 2022. Taxes would go down for them from 6% to 4.75%.
Amendment 3 would allow levee districts founded between January 1, 2006 and this Election Day to raise taxes by five mills, or $5 per $1,000 of assessed property values. It would also allow the Orleans Levee District to raise taxes by 2.5 mills. Any future levee districts would need voter approval to raise similar taxes.
Amendment 4 would double the limit on how much money the state could redirect to purposes besides what was originally allocated in the budget. The limit would go up from 5 to 10%.
Amendment 2 would reduce state income taxes for the top income bracket of over $50,000 starting in 2022. Taxes would go down for them from 6% to 4.75%.
Amendment 3 would allow levee districts founded between January 1, 2006 and this Election Day to raise taxes by five mills, or $5 per $1,000 of assessed property values. It would also allow the Orleans Levee District to raise taxes by 2.5 mills. Any future levee districts would need voter approval to raise similar taxes.
Amendment 4 would double the limit on how much money the state could redirect to purposes besides what was originally allocated in the budget. The limit would go up from 5 to 10%.
Question 1 has a...rather interesting backstory. Back in 2016, Massachusetts passed a law requiring 9.45 million megawatts of its power to be generated by hydro or a hydro/renewable mix. This means having to buy power from hydro dams up in Quebec powered by the provincial energy company, Hydro-Quebec. To bring it down to Massachusetts requires high-capacity transmission lines....right across the Upper Kennebec Region of Maine, which in turn means cutting down a lot of trees. This became known as the NECEC(New England Clean Energy Connect)Corridor. After four years of pulling teeth, Maine was able to secure 500 Megawatt Hours worth of power each year from the lines and compensation from Hydro-Quebec, but many don't think this is worth the environmental impacts that the corridor will cause. So, this November, Maine will be voting on Question 1, which would explicitly ban the construction of high-capacity lines in the Upper Kennebec region and require a two-thirds majority of the Legislature to approve any future lines. APPROVED
Question 2's just a bond issue. Moving on.
Question 3 would amend the constitution to create a "natural, inherent and unalienable right to food, including the right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being , as long as an individual does not commit trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food." APPROVED
Question 2's just a bond issue. Moving on.
Question 3 would amend the constitution to create a "natural, inherent and unalienable right to food, including the right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being , as long as an individual does not commit trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food." APPROVED
Public Question 1 would amend the constitution to allow people to bet on postseason college sports held in New Jersey and on New Jersey-based teams. REJECTED
Public Question 2 is an amendment that would allow all organisations that hold raffles to keep any proceeds to support themselves. Currently, only veterans and senior citizens organisations are allowed to do so. APPROVED
Public Question 2 is an amendment that would allow all organisations that hold raffles to keep any proceeds to support themselves. Currently, only veterans and senior citizens organisations are allowed to do so. APPROVED
Proposal 1 would lead to redistricting reform. The amendment would allow the state 10-member redistricting commission(made up of 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and 2 non-partisans) to approve a new legislative map by majority vote if a single party holds both legislative houses. Currently, it requires a two-thirds majority when a party holds both. Second, the amendment would require prisoners to be counted in the census according to their last known residence rather than the prison they're in. Third, it would require the state to count non-citizens when it comes to redistricting. Fourth, State Senate district would no longer be bound to the "block-on'-border" requirement, meaning that (A), city blocks could now be divided into different districts, and (B), the commission is no longer required to take adjacent towns or city blocks on the borders of districts in mind when drawing maps. Currently, they have to ensure that towns or blocks are placed in such a way as to make neighbouring districts equal in population and the districts can't have a greater population difference between them than the population of that border town or block. Fifth, it would permanently cap the State Senate at 63 seats, and sixth, it moves up the deadline for redistricting to November 1, 2021(and so on) from January 1, 2022(and so on). REJECTED
Proposal 2 would create a constitutional right to clean water, clean air, and a healthful environment. APPROVED
Proposal 3 would allow the legislature to pass a law to allow same-day voter registration, eliminating the current deadline of 10 days before an election. REJECTED
Proposal 4 would allow the legislature to pass a law allowing no-excuse absentee voting. REJECTED
Proposal 5 would increase the jurisdiction of the NYC Civil Court. It would now be able to preside over lawsuits up to $50,000, double the current jurisdictional limit of $25,000. APPROVED
Proposal 2 would create a constitutional right to clean water, clean air, and a healthful environment. APPROVED
Proposal 3 would allow the legislature to pass a law to allow same-day voter registration, eliminating the current deadline of 10 days before an election. REJECTED
Proposal 4 would allow the legislature to pass a law allowing no-excuse absentee voting. REJECTED
Proposal 5 would increase the jurisdiction of the NYC Civil Court. It would now be able to preside over lawsuits up to $50,000, double the current jurisdictional limit of $25,000. APPROVED
Questions 1 and 2 both regard emergency declarations. Question 1 would limit emergency declarations issued by the governor to no more than 21 days unless the legislature votes for an extension. The amendment would also allow the legislature to pass laws regarding how these declarations can be managed. Question 2 would allow the legislature to unilaterally extend or terminate a governor's emergency declaration by a simple majority vote. This resolution could not be vetoed by the governor. BOTH APPROVED
Question 3, to be voted on on May 18 like the others, would amend the constitution to prohibit the denial or abridgement of rights based on race or ethnicity. APPROVED
Question 4 would allow municipal fire departments and EMS services to apply for state loans from the State Fire Commission. Currently, only volunteer fire departments and ambulance services can apply for these loans. APPROVED
Question 3, to be voted on on May 18 like the others, would amend the constitution to prohibit the denial or abridgement of rights based on race or ethnicity. APPROVED
Question 4 would allow municipal fire departments and EMS services to apply for state loans from the State Fire Commission. Currently, only volunteer fire departments and ambulance services can apply for these loans. APPROVED
Prop 1 would declare professional rodeo organisations to be professional sports teams. This would also allow their charitable foundations to set up charitable raffles at rodeo events. APPROVED
Prop 2 would allow counties to issue bonds to pay for transportation and infrastructure programmes in blighted areas. Currently, only cities and towns can do so. They would be forbidden from building toll roads with these bonds, and they couldn't allocate more than 65% of their annual property tax revenue increases to paying the bonds back. APPROVED
Prop 3 would prohibit the state or any local authorities from prohibiting or placing limits on any form of religious services. APPROVED
Prop 4 would change the eligibility requirements for judges and higher justices. First, they would have to be residents of Texas and US citizens(currently, they only have to be citizens of Texas and the US). Second, the experience requirement for district court judges would be doubled to 8 years from the current 4. Third, the experience requirement of being either a lawyer, judge, or both for the State Supreme Court would remain at 10 years, but a new provision would be added for both types of judge and those for state appeals courts. Namely, if a lawyer or judge's law licence was suspended or revoked at any time during the 8- or 10-year period, they would be disqualified from higher benches. This will take effect for any judge that's appointed for a term on the court starting in 2025. APPROVED
Prop 5 would authorise the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to subject candidates for the judiciary to the same investigative and disciplinary powers that judicial officeholders are currently subject to. APPROVED
Prop 6 would ensure that residents of nursing or assisted living homes have the right to assign an essential caregiver. This caregiver can't be barred from in-person visitations. APPROVED
Prop 7 would allow the legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption to the surviving spouse of a disabled person if the spouse is 55 or older. Currently, such exemptions are only available to surviving spouses of people if they're 65 or older. It would also create a retroactive exemption for anyone who would qualify as far back as tax year 2020 and give such people full refunds for 2020 and 2021. APPROVED
Prop 8 would allow the legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption to a surviving military spouse if they died in the line of duty. Currently, they can only get the exemption if the person was killed in action. APPROVED
Prop 2 would allow counties to issue bonds to pay for transportation and infrastructure programmes in blighted areas. Currently, only cities and towns can do so. They would be forbidden from building toll roads with these bonds, and they couldn't allocate more than 65% of their annual property tax revenue increases to paying the bonds back. APPROVED
Prop 3 would prohibit the state or any local authorities from prohibiting or placing limits on any form of religious services. APPROVED
Prop 4 would change the eligibility requirements for judges and higher justices. First, they would have to be residents of Texas and US citizens(currently, they only have to be citizens of Texas and the US). Second, the experience requirement for district court judges would be doubled to 8 years from the current 4. Third, the experience requirement of being either a lawyer, judge, or both for the State Supreme Court would remain at 10 years, but a new provision would be added for both types of judge and those for state appeals courts. Namely, if a lawyer or judge's law licence was suspended or revoked at any time during the 8- or 10-year period, they would be disqualified from higher benches. This will take effect for any judge that's appointed for a term on the court starting in 2025. APPROVED
Prop 5 would authorise the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to subject candidates for the judiciary to the same investigative and disciplinary powers that judicial officeholders are currently subject to. APPROVED
Prop 6 would ensure that residents of nursing or assisted living homes have the right to assign an essential caregiver. This caregiver can't be barred from in-person visitations. APPROVED
Prop 7 would allow the legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption to the surviving spouse of a disabled person if the spouse is 55 or older. Currently, such exemptions are only available to surviving spouses of people if they're 65 or older. It would also create a retroactive exemption for anyone who would qualify as far back as tax year 2020 and give such people full refunds for 2020 and 2021. APPROVED
Prop 8 would allow the legislature to provide a homestead property tax exemption to a surviving military spouse if they died in the line of duty. Currently, they can only get the exemption if the person was killed in action. APPROVED
