2019 US Miscellaneous Election Thread

[San Lumen]

Pressley is far more intellectual than Sarah Palin, I dont see the comparison here.

Pressley's an intellectual? If we cheapen that word much further we'll unironically get to include Sarah Palin in that category.

What do you have against her

[Telconi]

Pressley's an intellectual? If we cheapen that word much further we'll unironically get to include Sarah Palin in that category.

What do you have against her

Her beliefs.

[Major-Tom]

What do you have against her

Her beliefs.

Oh c'mon, someone can be intellectual and have opposing beliefs. William F Buckley was a noted conservative figure, also recognized as an intellectual by all, including liberals such as myself.

Pressley is arguably a fairly smart, quick and thoughtful woman. I'd call her intellectual, or if not that, fairly smart and competent.

[San Lumen]

The plaza expands again with another initiative in Washington.

Washington: Also on the ballot is Initiative 976. It was an initiative to the legislature drafted by Tim Eyman, an anti-tax conservative who's well known for referenda in Washington and in trouble for taking initiative campaign money and using it for himself, but the state legislature has adjourned for the season, so it's going to the voters. This proposal, if approved, will limit annual licence fees for all vehicles under the weight of 10,000 pounds to $30 unless approved by the voters, base all vehicle taxes on Kelley Blue Book values rather than MSRPs like now, repeal motorhome weight fees, repeal a 0.3% tax on new vehicles, get rid of some fees on electric vehicles, and repeal parts of SB 5987, passed in 2015, that allow Sound Transit(Seattle and Tacoma's transit authority) the right to levy motor vehicle excise taxes. Given this is an off-year and those tend to favour the more conservatively minded, I'll say this has a moderate chance of passing.

This doesn't sound like a good thing if I'm reading it correctly

[Shrillland]

The plaza expands again with another initiative in Washington.

Washington: Also on the ballot is Initiative 976. It was an initiative to the legislature drafted by Tim Eyman, an anti-tax conservative who's well known for referenda in Washington and in trouble for taking initiative campaign money and using it for himself, but the state legislature has adjourned for the season, so it's going to the voters. This proposal, if approved, will limit annual licence fees for all vehicles under the weight of 10,000 pounds to $30 unless approved by the voters, base all vehicle taxes on Kelley Blue Book values rather than MSRPs like now, repeal motorhome weight fees, repeal a 0.3% tax on new vehicles, get rid of some fees on electric vehicles, and repeal parts of SB 5987, passed in 2015, that allow Sound Transit(Seattle and Tacoma's transit authority) the right to levy motor vehicle excise taxes. Given this is an off-year and those tend to favour the more conservatively minded, I'll say this has a moderate chance of passing.

This doesn't sound like a good thing if I'm reading it correctly

Oh, you're reading it correctly. Sound Transit's excise tax funds expanded ferry service across the islands of Puget Sound and to the mainland. The proposal would also effectively kill ST3, a major project that was approved in 2015 to expand light rail, increase park n' ride spots, and increase bus routes. I didn't put that in the description for obvious reasons. As I mentioned Tim Eyman's as much of a big name in Washington state as Tom Steyer is in California, but Eyman's in a lot of trouble.

[San Lumen]

This doesn't sound like a good thing if I'm reading it correctly

Oh, you're reading it correctly. Sound Transit's excise tax funds expanded ferry service across the islands of Puget Sound and to the mainland. It would also effectively kill ST3, a major project that was approved in 2015 to expand light rail, increase park n' ride spots, and increase bus routes. I didn't put that in the description for obvious reasons.

I hope it doesn't pass then but off years like this are very unpredictable. There aren't any statewide elections to boost turnout but there are some mayoral elections this year in Washington including in Spokane and Olympia.

Spokane is a Republican leaning city though but not overwhelmingly.

[Telconi]

Her beliefs.

Oh c'mon, someone can be intellectual and have opposing beliefs. William F Buckley was a noted conservative figure, also recognized as an intellectual by all, including liberals such as myself.

Pressley is arguably a fairly smart, quick and thoughtful woman. I'd call her intellectual, or if not that, fairly smart and competent.

Sure, I was just giving her the benefit of the doubt.

[Shrillland]

Now, another initiative is on the ballot.

Colorado: This initiative would allow the state to hold tax money that it's currently required to keep under Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights(TABOR), a section of Article 10 of the State Constitution that limits how taxes in Colorado can be raised and spent. The money that would be kept in the state's coffers would be used to fund transport, infrastructure, and education. This comes after two bond issue propositions on improving infrastructure were both rejected last year and sits alongside another bond issue for TRANs bonds(Colorado state transportation bonds). As for how it will go, I'm not going to make a projection yet.

[Myrensis]

That would be horribly undemocratic. Electors vote how their state votes. I understand, say, wanting to have electors vote proportionally to the vote in the state, but having electors vote on how OTHER states vote is an undemocratic farse and maybe even unconstitutional.

States can allocate electoral votes however they want. Joining a pact to allocate electoral votes to the winner of the populate vote is constitutional. Even if they aren't gonna wait for the compact, they still are allocating electoral votes however they please.

It's always amusing to me that the people who squeal the most about how horribly undemocratic the Compact would be, even though as you point out the Constitution allows states to allocate Electors however they choose, are the same ones who gloat about the Electoral College nullifying millions of votes from people they don't like, just the way the the Constitution intended!

About time someone did something about the rampant tyranny of the majority in those states, don't they know this is a Republic, not a Democracy?

[San Lumen]

The Democrat has won the by election for Wisconsin AD64 based in Kenosha. The election was facilitated after the incumbent resigned to take a position in Tony Evers cabinet

We have a rare Saturday election special episode of America: The Series.

Two of the top ten largest cities in America are holding mayoral and city council elections. Dallas and San Antonio. In both municipalities if no one clears 50 percent in city council district or the mayor election a runoff will be held in June.

In Dallas incumbent mayor Mike Rawlings is term limited setting off a crowded field to replace him. With nine candidates its very unlikely anyone hits 50 percent

State Representative Eric Johnson has raised the most money and will likely be in the runoff. As for the second spot I have no idea.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is seeking a second term and faces multiple opponents mostly some dudes. His main opponent is city councilmember Greg Brockhouse. It is possible the incumbent will win outright and avoid a runoff.

[Outer Sparta]

This doesn't sound like a good thing if I'm reading it correctly

Oh, you're reading it correctly. Sound Transit's excise tax funds expanded ferry service across the islands of Puget Sound and to the mainland. The proposal would also effectively kill ST3, a major project that was approved in 2015 to expand light rail, increase park n' ride spots, and increase bus routes. I didn't put that in the description for obvious reasons. As I mentioned Tim Eyman's as much of a big name in Washington state as Tom Steyer is in California, but Eyman's in a lot of trouble.

More transit related cuts and stuff? Bejesus.

[San Lumen]

In Ulster County, New York(located in Upstate New York but sometimes considered part of the NYC metro area) , Democrat Pat Ryan easily won the special election for county executive to fill out the rest of the term due to the incumbents resignation to take a position in Andrew Cuomo’s cabinet. Ryan took almost 75 percent of the vote and will be eligible to run in November for a full term.

[Outer Sparta]

NC-3 primaries are done as well as a Wisconsin Assembly district special election.

[Shrillland]

As for the big race of the night in Jacksonville-Outer Banks, it went as expected. Allan Thomas won the Democratic primary with 50% of the vote, while the Republican primary was No Overall Plurality. Greg Murphy will go against Joan Perry on July 9. Lumen's covered Saturday fairly well, so here's my take on Tuesday.

State legislatures: Only one byelection this week, Connecticut's HD-130(Bridgeport Central). This is a fairly safe Democratic district who's Representative, Ezequiel Santiago, died of a heart attack back in March. I expect no change here.

Cities: We start off in Indianapolis, where mayoral primaries are taking place on the GOP side. Current Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett is unopposed, and on the Republican side, I think that State Senator and Marion County GOP Chair Jim Merritt will take it.

Our next stop is Denver, with a mayoral vote and two fairly interesting referenda that are being monitored on the national level. Denver has a nonpartisan vote, but incumbent and likely winner Michael Hancock is a well-known Democrat.

But it's the ballot initiatives that are more important in Denver. I don't usually mention initiatives on the local level, but as I said, they are being monitored nationwide as a potential sign of the times. First, we've got Initiated Ordinance 300. This will add a 'Right to Survive in Public Places" section to the municipal code, which would legalise resting, sheltering oneself, eating or exchanging food, and occupying one's legally parked vehicle without any penalty. Effectively, it would allow homeless people to do these things without fear of being removed. Knowing Denver, this one could pass.

Next, we have Initiated Ordinance 301. This is seen by some as the next step in the normalisation of drugs since it would decriminalise psilocybin mushrooms(magic mushrooms) in the city and county of Denver. I think this one could pass as well.

[San Lumen]

As for the big race of the night in Jacksonville-Outer Banks, it went as expected. Allan Thomas won the Democratic primary with 50% of the vote, while the Republican primary was No Overall Plurality. Greg Murphy will go against Joan Perry on July 9. Lumen's covered Saturday fairly well, so here's my take on Tuesday.

State legislatures: Only one byelection this week, Connecticut's HD-130(Bridgeport Central). This is a fairly safe Democratic district who's Representative, Ezequiel Santiago, died of a heart attack back in March. I expect no change here.

Cities: We start off in Indianapolis, where mayoral primaries are taking place on the GOP side. Current Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett is unopposed, and on the Republican side, I think that State Senator and Marion County GOP Chair Jim Merritt will take it.

Our next stop is Denver, with a mayoral vote and two fairly interesting referenda that are being monitored on the national level. Denver has a nonpartisan vote, but incumbent and likely winner Michael Hancock is a well-known Democrat.

But it's the ballot initiatives that are more important in Denver. I don't usually mention initiatives on the local level, but as I said, they are being monitored nationwide as a potential sign of the times. First, we've got Initiated Ordinance 300. This will add a 'Right to Survive in Public Places" section to the municipal code, which would legalise resting, sheltering oneself, eating or exchanging food, and occupying one's legally parked vehicle without any penalty. Effectively, it would allow homeless people to do these things without fear of being removed. Knowing Denver, this one could pass.

Next, we have Initiated Ordinance 301. This is seen by some as the next step in the normalisation of drugs since it would decriminalise psilocybin mushrooms(magic mushrooms) in the city and county of Denver. I think this one could pass as well.

The Bridgeport district is likely safe dem as it contains downtown and most of the southern part of the city including the entire waterfront. Shame about Rep Santiago he was only 45

Lincoln, Nebraska is also having a mayoral and city council election. Incumbent mayor Chris Beutler was running for a fourth term but republicans successfully passed a term limit referendum to limiting mayors to three terms. City council members Leiron Gaylor Baird and Cyndi Lamm are competing for the mayor’s chair

South Bend, Indiana home to Notre Dame University is holding mayoral primaries. Whomever wins the democratic primary is the likely winner in November in this heavily democratic city. The city has come into the national spotlight due to outgoing mayor Pete Buttigieg‘s Presidential run

[Shrillland]

The plaza expands again, this time to Texas.

Texas: This proposal would amend the constitution to allow law enforcement animals, upon their retirement, to be given to their handlers or other qualified caretakers if it's in the animals best interest. Currently, police dogs and horses and the like are classified as salvage and have to be either auctioned, donated to a charity, or put down. This would add giving them to their handlers as an option. A reasonable proposal, and one I think will pass.

[Telconi]

The plaza expands again, this time to Texas.

Texas: This proposal would amend the constitution to allow law enforcement animals, upon their retirement, to be given to their handlers or other qualified caretakers if it's in the animals best interest. Currently, police dogs and horses and the like are classified as salvage and have to be either auctioned, donated to a charity, or put down. This would add giving them to their handlers as an option. A reasonable proposal, and one I think will pass.

>Auctioned, donated to charity, or put down...

I'm glad that the first option here is retirement to the permanent care of their partners.

[Myrensis]

The plaza expands again, this time to Texas.

Texas: This proposal would amend the constitution to allow law enforcement animals, upon their retirement, to be given to their handlers or other qualified caretakers if it's in the animals best interest. Currently, police dogs and horses and the like are classified as salvage and have to be either auctioned, donated to a charity, or put down. This would add giving them to their handlers as an option. A reasonable proposal, and one I think will pass.

While it seems odd that this wasn't an option to begin with, I'm more confused about why it would require a Constitutional amendment as opposed to just a policy change.

[Shrillland]

The plaza expands again, this time to Texas.

Texas: This proposal would amend the constitution to allow law enforcement animals, upon their retirement, to be given to their handlers or other qualified caretakers if it's in the animals best interest. Currently, police dogs and horses and the like are classified as salvage and have to be either auctioned, donated to a charity, or put down. This would add giving them to their handlers as an option. A reasonable proposal, and one I think will pass.

While it seems odd that this wasn't an option to begin with, I'm more confused about why it would require a Constitutional amendment as opposed to just a policy change.

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.

[San Lumen]

While it seems odd that this wasn't an option to begin with, I'm more confused about why it would require a Constitutional amendment as opposed to just a policy change.

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.

[Shrillland]

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.

Too many Conservative groups are opposed to it because it would mean streamlining and potentially raising taxation.

[San Lumen]

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.

Too many Conservative groups are opposed to it because it would mean streamlining and potentially raising taxation.

What;'s wrong with streamlining it?

[Shrillland]

Too many Conservative groups are opposed to it because it would mean streamlining and potentially raising taxation.

What;'s wrong with streamlining it?

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

[Telconi]

What;'s wrong with streamlining it?

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.

[San Lumen]

What;'s wrong with streamlining it?

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?