Here and Now - 2006 Ballot Measures

Guests

• Mark Brodie, Capitol Reporter, KJZZ
• Mary Jo Pitzl, Legislative Reporter, Arizona Republic
• Robert Robb, Editorial Columnist, Arizona Republic
• Le Templar, Senior Opinion Writer, East Valley Tribune

Showing Initiative: Arizona’s 2006 Ballot Measures Fast Facts

There are 19 measures tentatively scheduled for the November 7, 2006 ballot. Ten qualified for the ballot as initiatives. Eight were referred to the ballot by the legislature. One was placed on the ballot by a state salary commission. I=Initiative, R=Referendum (as of 7/12/06)

1. Smoke-Free Arizona
2. Arizona Non-Smoker Protection
3. First Things First for Arizona's
Children
4. Protect Marriage Arizona
5. Arizona Minimum Wage
6. Arizonans for Humane Farms
7. Your Right to Vote
8. Arizonans for Voter Rewards
9. Private Property Protection
10. Conserving Arizona's Future
11. HCR 2045 State Trust Lands
12. HCR 2036 English As The Official Language
13. HCR 2028 Bailable Offenses
14. SCR 1001 Standing In Civil Actions
15. SCR 1031 Public Program Eligibility
16. HCR 2056 Local Property Tax Levies
17. HCR 2001 Municipal Debt
18. SCR 1033 Probation For Methamphetamine Offenses
19. State Legislator’s Salaries

Sources: Arizona Secretary of State, AP, Arizona Republic

Smoke-Free Arizona

Would ban smoking in enclosed public areas and workplaces.(I)

Funding: $504,914, American Cancer Society and other health organizations.

Arizona Non-Smoker Protection

Would ban smoking in enclosed public places including restaurants, but allow smoking in bars or tobacco shops.(I)

Funding: $204,000, RJ Reynolds

First Things First for Arizona's Children

Would add an 80 cent tobacco tax to fund early childhood development programs. (I)

Funding: $2.2 million, Basha's, Fulton Homes and numerous Arizona businesses.

Protect Marriage Arizona

Defines marriage as between one man and one woman and prohibits state and local governments from recognizing civil unions between unmarried couples.(I)

Funding: $354,345, Center for Arizona Policy and United Families International in Gilbert.

Arizona Minimum Wage

Increases the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.75 an hour.

Funding: $331,703, local unions and a group called Arizona's Working Families (I)

Arizonans for Humane Farms

Requires farms to provide adequate space for confined veal calves and pregnant pigs. (I)

Funding: $411,872, Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary (based in Watkins Glen, NY) and Arizona Humane Society

Your Right to Vote

Would require that registered voters receive mail-in ballots with postage paid return envelope. It allows a limited number of county-wide polling places to remain open on election days. (I)

Funding: $197,880: Radio station owner Rick Murphy of Bullhead City.

Arizonans for Voter Rewards

Would establish a random drawing every two years with a first prize of $1 million or more to a voter who participated in either a primary or general election. Prize money would come from lottery proceeds and private donations. (I)

Funding: $196,000, Mark Osterloh of Tucson

Private Property Protection

Would restrict cities' use of eminent domain by local governments and require fair compensation to people who lose property or lose the value of their property when government takes or enacts a law that diminishes the value of private property. (I)

Funding: $186,600, Americans for Limited Government, based in Chicago, Illinois.

Conserving Arizona's Future

Would allow the state land department to use a portion of its proceeds to pay for improved management of state trust lands. It also sets aside 690,000 acres of state trust land for preservation as open space. (I)

Funding: $494,870, National Education Association, Nature Conservancy, Sonoran Institute, and Pinnacle West

HCR 2045 State Trust Lands

Would overhaul management of trust land and allow the Legislature to set aside about 40,000 acres of urban lands and set up procedures for conservation of another 400,000 rural acres of state trust land. (R)

HCR 2036 English As The Official Language

Declares English as the state's official language and requires all official state be conducted in English. (R)

HCR 2028 Bailable Offenses

Would deny bail in certain circumstances to people charged with crimes who are not in this country legally. (R)

SCR 1001 Standing In Civil Actions

Bars people who are not in this country legally from collecting punitive damages if they are injured. (R)

SCR 1031 Public Program Eligibility

Would prohibit people who are not in this country legally from enrolling in adult education classes or receiving state subsidized childcare. It prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving scholarships, grants, tuition assistance or in-state tuition rates. It also requires school districts, community colleges and universities to report to the legislature the number of undocumented immigrants who have applied for such programs or assistance. (R)

HCR 2056 Local Property Tax Levies

Establishes 2005 as the base year for a two-percent limit on maximum property tax increases imposed by counties, cities, towns and community college districts. (R)

HCR 2001 Municipal Debt

Allows cities and towns to increase the amount of money it can borrow for public safety, law enforcement, fire and emergency services facilities , streets and transportation facilities. (R)

SCR 1033 Probation For Methamphetamine Offenses

Would remove automatic probation for persons convicted of the personal possession or use of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia involving methamphetamine. (R)

State Legislator’s Salaries

Would increase state lawmaker salaries from $24,000 a year to $36,000. The Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers referred the measure to the ballot.

Arizona Ballot Measures 1986-2004

• From 1986-1994, 40% of initiatives (20 of 50) were passed by voters.
• From 1996-2004, 60% of initiatives passed (34 of 57).
• The most ballot measures in a given year during the past two decades was 14 (1992, 1998, 2000, 2002).
• The least number of ballot measures during that time frame was six (1986).

Source: Arizona Secretary of State

Your Voice - Arguments For or Against

The deadline to file arguments for or against initiatives and referenda is Friday, July 14. Arguments will be published in the Secretary of State’s general election voter guide and online voter guide. The cost to file an argument on paper is $100. Electronic format or computer disk is $75. Click here for address, phone and email contact information for the Arizona Secretary of State’s office.