Nevada Deal to Head Off Casino-Teachers' Union War?

Joe Mathews — Sat, 10 May 2008 16:48:00 -0400

This Associated Press story quotes Nevada's politically damaged governor, Jim Gibbons, as saying he supports a compromise to keep a union-backed, casino tax initiative off the ballot. The compromise would raise room taxes, not gaming taxes. The teachers' union wants the money for educational programs. (Hat tip: ballotpedia.org)

Weekend Round Up: A Colorado Super Bowl?

Joe Mathews — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 06:34:00 -0400

There are signs that Colorado is headed towards the kind of Labor vs. Business Ballot Initiative Super Bowl that Californians experienced during the special election of 2005. It seems that every few weeks, one side or the other ups the ante by filing new initiatives aimed at the prerogatives of the other. Colorado's governor has called a meeting for Monday in an effort to head off warfare, but don't bet it on him succeeding. Ballot initiatives, once filed, take on lives of their own. A whole industry of people who profit from the measures -- and interest groups who like the measures -- soon seize on viable initiatives. In many cases, the initiative's original sponsors can change their mind and sue for peace -- but it doesn't matter. Here's a round-up of headlines from over the past couple days.

RIGHT TO WORK SUMMIT: The Rocky Mountain News has this report on Monday's scheduled meeting between the governor and advocates for a ballot initiative that would make Colorado a "right-to-work state." California cognoscenti will recognize the name of Jonathan Coors, a former aide to Gov. Schwarzenegger.

MAKING INITIATIVE HARDER: The Rocky Mountain News suggests it should be harder to amend the state constitution by initiative than to establish a statute by initiative. This makes sense, and is the case in a number of states, including California.

DID GATHERERS LIE? And yet another complaint about Colorado signature gatherers. An attorney has filed a complaint with audio evidence of gatherers working on the right-to-work measure. Similar complaints by opponents of an anti-affirmative action measure received attention this past week from The New York Times. The problem with pursuing such complaints is that gathering signatures involves political speech -- the kind that really must be protected by the First Amendment. And complaints about signature gatherers' tactics are almost never based on principle; the people on each side change depending on whose ox is gored by the petition in question.

ARKANSAS DOESN'T LIKE TRAVELERS? A counter-attack begins on a ballot initiative that would force Arkansans over age 13 to produce proof of citizenship or legal residence before they receive public benefits. The measure was filed March 27. Scholarships for undocumented immigrants have been a major issue in the state; former Gov. Mike Huckabee was criticized during his presidential campaign for backing the idea.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN THE DESERT: A newly filed Arizona initiative would bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. And the sponsor of an Arizona measure that would have asked voters to ban same-sex marriage died after members of the legislature amended in protections for same-sex couples.

BEATING THE CASINOS: A court in Nevada has turned aside a gaming industry challenge to a teachers' union-backed initiative to raise taxes on casino winnings.

ANOTHER MEASURE ON SOUTH DAKOTA BALLOT: Open government initiative qualifies.

MIZZOU NEWS: Is this an April Fool's Joke? A college newspaper reports that a Missouri group wants to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18.

Silver State Tax Fight

Joe Mathews — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:51:00 -0400

The Wall Street Journal devoted its lead op-ed last weekend (unfortunately, the link and story appear to have disappeared from the paper's subscription-based web site) to a battle between casino interests and its teachers’ union.

The Nevada State Education Assn. has drafted an initiative that would raise business taxes on the large casinos to 9.75 percent from 6.75 percent. If the measure makes the ballot, this would be the initiative equivalent of the heavyweight title fights that Vegas loves to host.

Teachers’ unions and gambling interests are the two of the biggest-spending entities in the country when it comes to direct democracy. And this battle could create problems for whomever emerges as the Democratic presidential nominee. The powerful Culinary Workers Union opposes the teachers on this measure, and both unions likely will pressure the Democrat to choose sides.

Casinos

Nevada Deal to Head Off Casino-Teachers' Union War?

Weekend Round Up: A Colorado Super Bowl?

Silver State Tax Fight