US election of Nov 8, 2011

[Lamplighter]

So, the news media is filled with election results.
Some are national, some state, and some very local
Here's a nutty situation in my local area that tackles a common civic problem.

It is sort of like (#1125) BigV mentioned in Washington.

OREGON CITY -- Clackamas County voters decided Tuesday to
give themselves a countywide say every time an urban renewal district
is proposed for an unincorporated area of the county.

There were two (contradictory) measures on the ballot....Both measures passed !

The leading measure requires countywide voter approval to create an urban renewal district.
The other would require voters only within the district to approve it's creation or amendment.
The former received 51,483 voter, the latter received 47,029.
County officials previously said that if both measures passed,
they would implement the one that received the most votes.

Critics of urban renewal have long complained that urban renewal programs
subsidize private development at the expense of schools, police and fire services.
They said a countywide vote is the only fair method because
all county residents end up paying for these urban renewal projects.

This happens because the $ for renewal programs come off the top of county tax revenues,
and so $ for schools, etc is effectively frozen for years until the project is paid off

The coalition of business, labor and community leaders now
will have to find a way to pay for their infrastructure projects.

Duh... that's what they should have done in the first place !

[Spexxvet]

Thanks to Ohioans for repealing the law that prohibits collective bargaining.

[glatt]

And the Arizonians who are calming down the immigration rhetoric.

[infinite monkey]

And HALLELUJAH Mississippi.

And wtg Ohio, for seeing through Kasich's thinly veiled "evil union" crusade. He shouldn't have messed with public employees. Now I won't have to see the stomach-turning ads about how the public employees ruin the economy. Ch'yeah. Ass.

[Pico and ME]

Yeah, a pretty good day overall. Dare I say, a 'referendum' on far right politics and especially the tea party?

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

And HALLELUJAH Mississippi.

And wtg Ohio, for seeing through Kasich's thinly veiled "evil union" crusade. He shouldn't have messed with public employees. Now I won't have to see the stomach-turning ads about how the public employees ruin the economy. Ch'yeah. Ass.

I don't think the unions are out of the woods just yet, but the public is getting pretty testy on all the attacks on workers. Good to see, yessiree.

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

Yeah, a pretty good day overall. Dare I say, a 'referendum' on far right politics and especially the tea party?

Agreed, Pico. I quoted you over in the Wall Street thread.

[ZenGum]

What did Mississippi do?

[Lamplighter]

The "life begins at fertilization" measure failed.
The Republican Governor was elected.

[Happy Monkey]

Recognized that zygotes aren't people.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

What did Mississippi do?

They voted down legislation that said life begins at fertilization.

[Lamplighter]

Maybe this belongs in the "Blue Laws" thread,
but it's Washington state's measure on the sale of liquor.

Seattle Times
Nov 9, 2011

Voters kick state out of liquor business

Beginning June 1, grocery stores in Washington will begin selling liquor.
The state budgeting office figures the number of outlets selling
liquor will jump from 328 to 1,428.

Of the ballots tallied Tuesday night, about 60 percent favored Initiative 1183.
<snip>
The campaign was a battle of corporate interests,
with Costco contributing the vast majority of the money
for the pro-1183 campaign.

Issaquah-based Costco donated $22.5 million to the campaign for I-1183,
making it the largest single donor to a voter initiative in state history.
Only $18.5 million was spent, and campaign leaders said
the $4 million difference will be returned, presumably to Costco.

My wife says it's really about the Costco Corp stores being able
to sell it's own brand of booze.
BigV may have more to say or a different opinion.
.

[ZenGum]

My faith in democracy is slightly recovering.

Thanks for the triple answers!

[tw]

Wow. Looks like many people are discovering that Limbaugh et al are dumb! And promoters of hate.

[Clodfobble]

Voters kick state out of liquor business

I predict that every small liquor store in that state will go out of business in the next 2 years. Why would anyone make a second trip anymore when the grocery store is always going to be more convenient?