2008 AZ Ballot Propositions – My Take

The election has passed.  I’ll post the score on the propositions here as a comparison later.

Proposition 100: Prohibit the state and or any county, city, town or other political subdivision from imposing any new tax, fee or other assesment on the sale, purchase, transfer, etc. of any interest in real property (homes and other real estate).

Vote YES on this one.  If you now own or will in the future seek to own any property and want to sell it or gift it to any one, do you really want to be taxed on that transaction?  Just say no to another attempt of useless legislators to take more money.  Besides, anything that annoys the AZ Education Assoc. is definitely worth it.

Proposition 101: “Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act”.

Basically says no law will:

  • Restrict a person’s freedom to choose a PHP or system of their choice
  • Interfere with a person’s right to pay directly for lawful medical services (i.e., if you don’t want insurance and can afford to pay for it)
  • Impose a penalty or fine of any type for either obtaining or declining health care
  • Impose a penalty or fine of any type for participation in any particular health care system/plan

Sounds good, eh?  Why is it that this proposition didn’t get alot of print or air time down here in Tucson?  I see more about the crappy prop 202 (more on that later).  Here’s something to chew on: Glendale, Phoenix, Anthem, Phoenix, Phoenix, Payson(may as well be feenix), Scottsdale, Phoenix, Peoria, Sun City, Surprise, Sun City, Phoenix, Phoenix, Glendale, Paradise Valley, Pheonix, Phoenix, repeat ad nauseum…  Those are just some of the locations from those ‘For’ the proposition.  While it sounds like a good idea in theory I’d rather have it out in the open and discussed outside of el valle de smog (feenix) before I vote yes on an ammendment to the Arizona Constitution.  Vote NO.

Proposition 102: The Definition of Marriage.

If you vote yes you’re judgmental and are a homophobe.  If you vote no you’re enlightened and by default a better person.  Bull.  If you vote yes you are acknowledging that at a basic biological level, a male and a female reproduce to create life.  A strong father figure and strong mother figure combine to give a child balance.  Before ‘enlightened’ liberals started trying to push their moronic ideals of acceptable lifestyles on main stream America, a de facto family unit was a mother, father, and children.  Not ‘two daddys” or “two mommys”.  I’m voting YES.

Proposition 105: Let The People Decide Act

Any initiative that levies taxes or mandates a spending obligation will not become law unless it is approved by a majority of qualified electors registered to vote in Arizona.

The Arguments ‘Against’ people are bitching that it’ll make it harder to raise money.  Why?  Because they’ll actually have to come out from under their rocks and explain exactly what they want the money for.  Who are some of the people/groups against this proposition: Arizona Education Association, Arizona School Boards Association, Clean Elections Institution, Sierra Club, Arizona Association of School Business Officials, National Organization of Women, Animal Defense League of Arizona, and the Humane Society.  All organizations that depend on public funding.  ’nuff said.  Vote YES on this one.

Proposition 200: Payday Loan Reform Act

July 1, 2010.  That’s the deadline for the current exemption to expire that side steps limiting current gouging, I mean payday loans, to 36%.  Triple digit interest is the norm on the smallest loans.  Voting NO on the proposition sunset’s the exempion (Arizona Consumer Loan Act) and ends payday loan usury.  If you do get one of these loans, this proposition would grant the lenders electronic access to your bank account.  Who’s responsible for the legislation – you guessed it, the payday loan industry.  Vote NO. (Go here to read more.)

Proposition 201: Homeowners’ Bill of Rights

Sounds like a good think, right?  Unfortunately, the main sticking point here is that it eliminates the option of mediation and replaces it with litigation.  I stopped there.  I’m voting NO.

Proposition 202: the Stop Illegal Hiring Act

It’s being advertised here in Arizona as a needed update to the already tough Legal Arizona Workers Act.  It’s a crock.  Who’s for it?  The Arizona Farm Bureau.  Mac Magruder – Mr. McDonalds in feenix.  AnnaMarie Knorr – Mouthpiece for Western Growers Association.  The same organizations that tried to tear down the original legislation from 2007 are at it again.  So what does it do?  It exempts from punishment incorporated companies, partnerships, and Transaction Privilege Licenses.  That would exempt…hmmm, growers, restaurants, hotels, cleaning companies..  Sound right to you?  Oh, and instead of anonymous reports, a written, notarized affidavit will be required.  Talk about witness intimidation.  NO.  NO.  NO.

Proposition 300: Salary Increase for Elective State Officers

They’re trying to raise their pay from $24K to $30K.  For a part time job?  What a gig!  This one is easy.  Vote NO!