Props to AZ

For those of you concerned AZ voters, here is a list of the local propositions we are asked to decide on at this upcoming election. I stole this list from the Tucson Tea Party, so if you don't agree with them, vote the other way. It is still an informative and helpful list.

Prop 106

Proposition 106 would amend the Arizona Constitution by barring any rules or regulations that would force state residents to participate in a health-care system. The proposed amendment would also ensure that individuals would have the right to pay for private health insurance without a penalty.

TTP endorses a "Yes" vote as a buffer to heavy handed health care mandates.

Prop 107

Proposition 107, entitled the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative arises from the House of Representatives (HCR 2019)as a proposed Constitutional Amendment. If passed Proposition 107 would amend the Arizona Constitution to ban affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to or discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting.

TTP endorses a "Yes" vote.

Prop 109

Proposition 109 would give Arizonans constitutional protection to the right to hunt in Arizona, and prohibit citizens from using the ballot initiative to make laws regarding hunting and fishing by giving exclusive authority to the legislature to do so.

TTP endorses a "Yes" vote. The right to hunt has both 2nd amendment and personal freedom concerns.

Prop 110

Proposition 110 would authorize the exchange of state trust lands without auction or advertisement in order to protect military installations. According to the measure, the legislature must provide a process for exchanging those lands. It will also allow voter-approved exchanges of state trust land after public notice and hearing if the exchange is related to either protecting military facilities or for land management purposes.

TTP endorses a "Yes" vote that gives our state legislature greater flexibility to protect our military bases.

Prop 111

Proposition 111 would change the position of Secretary of State to Lieutenant Governor. The amendment proposes that in an election, each political party's nominee for lieutenant governor would have to run on the same ticket as the nominee for governor and be voted on together in the general election.

TTP endorses a "No" vote believing that this initiative further politicizes the Office of Secretary of State, and limits the participation of Independent candidates in the process of election for this office.

Prop 112

Proposition 112 would change the current ballot initiative petition drive deadline to be two months earlier than the current deadline. The current four month filing deadline would be extended to six months. Initiative organizers would have to turn in those signatures to the Secretary of State by that date.

TTP takes a "No" position on this proposition.

Prop 113

Proposition 113 is sponsored by the Arizona Senate (SCR 1001). If passed the Arizona Save Our Secret Ballot Amendment would guarantee the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot in elections, designations or authorizations for employee representation (including unions and employee organizations).

TTP takes a "Yes" position on this proposition.

Prop 203

The Arizona Legislative Council offered this synopsis: If passed the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act "...would allow a "qualifying patient" who has a "debilitating medical condition" to obtain an "allowable amount of marijuana" from a "nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary" and to possess and use the marijuana to treat or alleviate the debilitating medical condition or symptoms associated with the condition. The Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) would be required to adopt and enforce a regulatory system for the distribution of marijuana for medical use, including a system for approving, renewing and revoking the registration of qualifying patients, designated caregivers, nonprofit dispensaries and dispensary agents. The costs of the regulatory system would be paid from application and renewal fees collected, civil penalties imposed and private donations received pursuant to this proposition...."

TTP takes a "No comment" position on this proposition.

Prop 301

If passed the Arizona Land Conservation Fund (ALCF)Transfer would transfer the balance of money in the land conservation fund, which was established by voters in 1998 as part of the "Growing Smarter Act," to the state general fund. The Growing Smarter Trust Fund was set up as a means to conserve public lands. A yes vote on prop 301 transfers the current balance in the (ALCF) towards the state general fund in an effort to close the state deficit.

TTP takes a "No comment" position on this proposition.

Prop 302

Named the Arizona First Things First Program Repeal would terminate the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board and programs, which were established by voters in 2006 as part of the "Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Initiative." It would require the transfer of money remaining in the early childhood development and education fund on December 1, 2010 to be deposited in the state general fund. Thereafter, it would require tobacco tax money collected pursuant to the initiative to be deposited in the state general fund and used for health and human services for children.

TTP endorses a "Yes" vote on this proposition because taxpayer money that could be used to fund education for all of Arizona's children is currently being overseen and spent by a non-elected commission. This does not encourage accountability of the taxpayer dollar.

Prop 400

Prop 400 would increase the city sales tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent for a period of 5 years. The additional percentage increase would be directed towards "maintaining and preserving staffing and programs for public safety services, transportation services including maintenance of city streets, and parks and recreations facilities and programs".

TTP STRONGLY encourages a "No" vote on this proposition. The City hasn't made a strong enough case to show that it has made all available cuts.

Prop 401

Amends the Tucson City Charter by (1) providing the mayor with equal voting authority as the members of the council; (2) designating certain officers of the city as employees who are appointed and removed from office without the requirements of civil service; (3) fixing the salary of the mayor as equal to, and the salary of the council members as 80% of, the salaries of the Pima County Board of Supervisors; and (4) providing that the mayor and all council members shall be elected in concurrent, non-staggered elections, beginning in 2013.

TTP takes a "Yes" position on this initiative in order to give some much needed changes to our current city charter and help reduce duplication in jobs and to be able to have more qualified members run for the City Council. Although not perfect, it is a step forward from what we currently have.