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diggThe Issues- The Latino Perspectives' voters guide
the Initiatives, their pros and cons.
MY SAFETY
100 –
Pro:
Bailable OffensesWith some exceptions, people charged with a crime are eligible for bail. This measure would amend the state Constitution so that illegal immigrants charged with a serious felony offense could be denied bail.
Would prevent undocumented immigrants from fleeing country to avoid prosecution.
Con: Could flood already overcrowded jails with more bodies. Immigrant advocates see this measure as trying to take away basic rights of immigrant charged – but not convicted – of crimes.
301 –
Pro:
Methamphetamine use has reached crisis levels, devastating minority communities. Tougher laws will act as deterrent.Con: Would eliminate probation for first- and second-time offenders, sending these early users directly to jail or prison, where they learn from hardened criminals.
MY ENVIRONMENT
204 – Humane Treatment of Farm Animals Act (pending)
This would require that calves raised for veal and pregnant pigs be given enough room to turn around, lie down and fully extend their limbs. Exceptions include: during transportation; during slaughter; animals in exhibitions; involved in scientific or agricultural research; for veterinary purposes; when a pig is in pre-birth stages. If passed, it would be effective Dec. 31, 2012.
Pro: Advocates for humanE treatment of animals are pushing this measure.
Con: Ranchers and farmers say the measure will add to their already high costs to produce food for urban consumers.
105 –
With this measure, the Legislature could decide to set aside up to 400,000 acres, mainly in rural areas, for conservation. Grazing rights for ranchers would be maintained.
As development cuts into more farmland for urban living, this measure aims to ensure that a percentage of state lands is restored to its natural condition.
Con: Ranchers argue that they practice conservation on their leased grazing land, and see no need for the set-aside of 400,000 acres.
Pro:
State Trust LandsWhen Arizona became a state, it was granted 10.9 million acres of land to lease or sell to benefit public schools and other public institutions. Ninety percent of state trust land is leased to ranchers for grazing.
106 –
Pro:
Conserving Arizona’s Future (pending)This would set aside about 694,000 acres of selected state trust land for a Conservation Reserve. The land in the Reserve would be restricted against development but could be used by universities for research and education or sold to non-profit conservation groups or local governments. A new board, made up mostly of people from public education, would be created to decide what to do with state trust lands. Pro-conservation advocates pushing to increase the land kept from development.
Con: Pro-growth advocates are pushing back, saying the conserved land would only benefit a few.
MY PERSONAL LIFE
107 –
Pro:
Protect Marriage Arizona (pending)State law currently bans same-sex marriage, but this measure would put that restriction into the state Constitution by defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It would also prohibit legal status similar to marriage for unmarried people.Measure would further sanctify man-woman marriage by writing it into the state Constitution.
Con: Gay and non-gay opponents – with Latinos in both groups say this is another push by right-wing conservatives to restrict gay rights.
201 –
Pro:
Smoke-Free Arizona Act (pending)This would ban smoking in most indoor public places, including bars. Exceptions include veterans and fraternal clubs during non-public use, smoking hotel rooms, retail tobacco stores and outdoor patios. This measure would allow more restrictive smoking laws locally.
Health advocates say this measure would help eliminate dangers of second-hand smoke to non-smokers.
Con: Some argue that this measure infringes on the rights of smokers.
206 –
Pro:
Pro-smokers measure, preventing stricter laws against smoking.Con: Non-smokers argue this measure infringes on their rights. Arizona Non-Smoker Protection Act (pending)
This measure would ban smoking in most public indoor places and workplaces but not in bars, including bars with separate ventilation systems inside of restaurants and hotels. This measure would prevent stricter local laws for smoking in bars and tobacco stores.
MY CHILDREN
Pro:
203 – First Things First for Arizona’s Children (pending) This would increase taxes on tobacco products (80 cents per pack of cigarettes) to pay for early childhood education and health programs for kids under 5. Local councils would help decide where the money should be spent in their communities.Smokers should foot some of the bill for early childhood education and health programs.
Con: Smokers have enough of a tax burden on their products of choice, and this taxation is excessive.
MY GOVERNMENT
This measure would amend the state Constitution to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving punitive damages.
Pro:
Would restrict lawsuits by undocumented immigrants, especially those harmed or injured while crossing illegally.Con:
Immigrant advocates say that this measure will encourage vigilante actions by citizens against the undocumented.
Pro:
102 – Standing in Civil Actions
A person who wins a civil lawsuit may receive two types of damages —compensatory and punitive. Compensatory damages are awarded to compensate for the actual injury. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the person being sued.
103 – English as the Official Language
This would amend the state Constitution to make English the official language of this state. It would require all official government actions to be done in English. Exemptions include: when required by federal law, teaching other languages, using or preserving Native American languages, to protect health and safety and the rights of crime victims and criminal defendants, in informal communications and for tourism, commerce or international trade.Would codify English as "official" language of state.
Con: Opponents point out that English is already the official language of Arizona. They see this as another anti-Hispanic measure.
104 – Municipal Debt
This would amend the state Constitution so that municipalities (counties, cities, towns, school districts and other municipal corporations) would be allowed to take on debt up to 20 percent of the value of taxable property for public safety and street projects. The debt limit for these is currently 6 percent.
Pro: Would allow cities to borrow more money for police and fire department hirings, and to fix city infrastructure.
Con: Opponents argue that city governments must learn to live within their budgets.
200 –
Pro:
Would reward citizens for voting.
Con: Opponents argue that citizens should not have to be "bribed" to do their civic duty. Also encourages gambling.
205 –
Pro:
Backers say it is more convenient to vote by mail rather than at polls.Con: Opponents say some citizens don’t have regular mailboxes, and this initiative would discriminate against them.
302 –
Pro:
Pro:
State minimum wage hasn’t kept up with inflation, and would be raised to ensure quality of life for workers.Con: Will hurt small businesses by adding more expense to employers.
Pro:
Undocumented immigrants shouldn’t benefit from program funded by taxes paid by citizens.Con: Immigrant workers pay taxes, too. Education obstructions against immigrant children are seen by immigrant advocates and others as anti-Hispanic and as hurting Arizona’s future.
207 –
Eminent domain is the power of the government to take private property for public use. This measure would give more rights to property owners when the state or a local government exercises the power of eminent domain. The government would only be able to take property for public use, but not for economic development.
Pro: Prevents cities from taking private property (using eminent domain laws) and giving it to
developers for their profit. Also ensures that property owners get a just price for their land.
Con: City officials and pro-growth advocates argue this restricts municipal revitalization and growth
initiatives.
MY MONEY
This measure would set the amount of taxes collected by each jurisdiction in 2005 as the new limit. Jurisdictions that were not taxing to their capacity would lose that excess capacity and have to start over with the new 2005 base, preventing the chance of big jumps in property taxes for residents. Beginning in 2007, the new levy limit would increase by 2 percent each year, plus any new construction.
Pro: Would allow cities, counties, and community college districts to raise more funds, while limiting property tax increases.
Con: These public entities must learn to live within current budgets.
101 – Local Property Tax Levies
In 1980, limits were set on the amount of primary property taxes that cities, towns, counties and community college districts could collect each year. Those limits are increased by 2 percent each year, plus any new construction in the affected area. A minimum wage hike for citizen lawmakers.
Con: Some say Legislators play partisan politics over constituent needs, and don’t deserve a raise. They add that if raises are given, only certain Legislators deserve them.
MY JOB
202 – Arizona Minimum Wage
The state doesn’t have a minimum wage but follows the federal minimum wage law of $5.15/hour. This would create a state minimum wage of $6.75/hour beginning Jan. 1, 2007. That minimum wage would be increased each year to keep up with inflation.
MY COMMUNITY
300 – Public Program Eligibility
Would make illegal immigrants ineligible for:
1. adult education classes offered by the state Department of Education.
2. in-state or county residence status for college tuition.
3. waivers, grants or financial aid from state funds.
4. child care assistance from the Department of Economic Security. State Legislators’ Salaries
This initiative would raise state legislators’ salaries 50 percent, from $24,000 to $36,000. It was proposed/submitted/sponsored by the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, which reviews state officer’s salaries every two years. Your Right to Vote (pending)
This would make voting by mail the standard election process. Registered voters would receive a ballot by mail and mail it back in the included postage-paid envelope. A limited number of polling places would be open on election days for in-person voting. Arizona Voter Reward Act
This would create a random drawing every two years to award $1 million to one voter in the state’s primary or general elections. The money will come from the Arizona Lottery and private donations. Probation for Methamphetamine Offenses
In 1996, voters passed a law that in most cases requires probation instead of jail or prison time for those convicted for the first or second time of using or possessing drugs. This measure would change that law for meth-related offenses so that even a first or second meth-related conviction could be punishable by a jail or prison sentence.
