Referendum

Al-Sistani Wants Referendum on U.S. Presence

Joe Mathews — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:56:00 -0400

An aide to the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the supreme leader of Iraq's Shiites, says the public must have the right to vote on the military agreement that Iraq's government and the U.S. are now negotiating.

Hoosiers Embrace Local Referenda

Joe Mathews — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:32:00 -0400

Indiana does not have statewide initiatives or referenda. But the legislature there, in an effort to put downward pressure on property taxes, passed a new requirement in March: that a local referendum be conducted on large-scale construction. The referendum is required on K-8 school construction of $10 million or more, high school construction of $20 million or more, and all other public projects of $12 million or more. The referenda have begun, and the Journal Gazette, the paper in Ft. Wayne, takes a thorough look at the change.

Moose Jaw News: Hockey Referendum

Joe Mathews — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:31:00 -0400

One would think that there'd be no easier sale than a new hockey rink and curling facility in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Well, some citizens there think the $61 million (Canadian dollars) is too high a price tag, and want a referendum.

Arizona Joins the Gay Marriage Debate

Joe Mathews — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:58:00 -0400

In the final hours of its session, the Arizona legislature voted to put a measure on the November ballot that would ban gay marriage. Californians will vote on a similar initiative. The Arizona's measures prospects are considered poor, however; the state already voted down a measure that would have banned gay marriage two years ago. (That measure was harsher, though--it would have banned the state and local governments from offering domestic partnership benefits).

Statistic of the Day

Joe Mathews — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:47:00 -0400

With state school funding lagging, local communities in Minnesota are passing school referenda to augment school funds. How many communities are acting? According to this piece, 87 percent of Minnesota schools currently have a special funding referendum in place. The U.S. may still be a republic on the federal level, but at the state and especially the local level, we rule ourselves directly and democratically.

Peoria Mayor Doesn't Enjoy Kool-Aid

Joe Mathews — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:52:00 -0400

There may be no more basic or more profound political mistake than to criticize your own constituents on an issue immediately after they have overwhelmingly voted on that issue. But that's what Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis did, suggesting that the 72 percent of voters who supported a library expansion referendum there had done some Kool-Aid drinking. He attemps to explain here.

Is Bolivia Breaking Up?

Joe Mathews — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:25:00 -0400

Partial results show a big victory for those supporting "autonomy" for the gas-rich province of Tarija. It's the fourth Bolivian province to vote for autonomy from the central government this year. A recall vote on President Evo Morales is scheduled for August. Morales says that, if he survives the recall, he will push for a new constitution that would put more power in the hands of the central government. Given Bolivia history, it's possible that in that country, these autonomy referenda aer serving as a prelude to civil war.

Irish "Unrepentant"

Joe Mathews — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:04:00 -0400

We Irish so often are.... This column from the Guardian makes a good point. By attacking the irish vote against the Lisbon Treaty and so quickly demanding a new referendum, European Unoin leaders probably have hardended Irish attitudes against the treaty, which represents a backdoor way to impose a new constitution in Europe. A better approach would be to respond to Irish concerns, amend the treaty, and then, humbly, try again.

From Our Foreign Bureaus: Golan Vote Advance, Sarkozy To "Calm" Irish

Joe Mathews — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:14:00 -0400

GOLAN REFERENDUM? The Israeli Knesset has advanced a bill to hold a national referendum on handing over any land in the Golan Heights.

SARKOZY TO MEND IRISH FENCES: The French president, and incoming EU president, is planning a July trip to Dublin to mend fences after voters defeated the Lisbon Treaty, which would have brought the EU closer together, in a referendum earlier this month. Sarkozy, not exactly a diplomat, may be the wrong messenger , however; he's already taking shots at EU officials he blames for the Irish vote. The reaction of EU leaders to this defeat is hysterical. There's a huge amount of hang-wringing about what went wrong, but no one seems to consider the simple idea that Irish voters didn't like the treaty.

MACEDONIA NAME REFERENDUM: Macedonia's prime minister is moving forward with a public referendum on the country's name. No word yet on specific name. My suggestion would be to recycle the best of the five names that were considered for a new San Fernando Valley city in the 2001 Los Angeles referendum on valley secession. (The secession effort failed, so it turned out there was no new city to name). That name? Camelot.

Weekend Round Up: Ohio Sick Leave, California Parcels

Joe Mathews — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:46:00 -0400

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO RUN A BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN.... Read this post from Wayne Pacelle, of the Humane Society of the United States, at California Majority Report.

ANOTHER CALIFORNIA PARCEL TAX: One of the handful of taxes California cities can raise is the parcel tax. With the state budget in crisis, more and more city governments are asking the voters to endorse parcel tax hikes to pay for police officers. The latest city to make the ask is Oakland.

SICK IN OHIO? An Ohio ballot initiative, currently on the street, would require companies to provide seven days of paid sick leave. But Gov. Ted Strickland may be trying to forge a compromise before the initiative reaches the ballot, according to a leading legislator.

THE DOGS HAVE IT: A measure to ban greyhound racing in Massachusetts appears to have enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

MORE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES ON LOCAL BALLOT: A ballot measure in Pleasanton, Calif., would limit hillside and housing developments. Competing measures on growth -- a citizen's initiative and a measure referred by the city council -- will go before voters in your blogger's former town, Redondo Beach. Ballot box planning shows no sign of abating.