Abortion Tops
Divisive Ballot Measures
By AP from the
NYTimes on the Web, November 5, 2006
Even if no candidates were running,
this Election Day would be dramatic as voters across the country consider ballot
measures on a multitude of hot-button topics -- abortion, gay marriage,
affirmative action, illegal immigration, sex crimes, even legalizing marijuana.
In all, there are 205 measures on the ballots in 37 states -- a total topped
only twice before. Huge sums have been spent, including tens of millions
of dollars by tobacco companies fighting anti-smoking measures and by oil
companies fighting a proposed California oil-production tax.
Voters in sparsely populated South Dakota face perhaps the most momentous choice
-- whether to uphold or reject a new state law that would ban abortions except
when necessary to save a pregnant woman's life. Activists on both sides of
the national abortion debate see it as a historic test of public sentiment.
South Dakota lawmakers passed the ban in hopes that a subsequent court challenge
might lead to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning its 1973 Roe v. Wade
decision legalizing abortion. Instead of going to court, abortion-rights
activists gathered enough petition signatures to put the measure to a statewide
vote.
In many other states, activists on the left and right hope turnout for certain
ballot measures may have a spillover effect on crucial races in the battle for
control of Congress.
Liberals see a boost for Democrats if low-income voters mobilize on behalf of
measures to raise the state minimum wage in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri,
Montana, Nevada and Ohio.
Conservatives hope last month's court ruling in New Jersey ordering equal rights
for same-sex couples will trigger a backlash aiding Republican candidates in the
eight states with ban-gay-marriage amendments on their ballots: Arizona,
Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and
Wisconsin.
Tennessee and Virginia are among the states with close races that will decide
control of the U.S. Senate.
Another close Senate race is in Missouri, where the candidates disagree on a
proposed constitutional amendment that would ensure stem cell research is
allowed in the state. Incumbent Republican Jim Talent opposes the measure,
while Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill supports it. Celebrities have
plunged into the campaign: actor Michael J. Fox, suffering from
Parkinson's disease, endorsed the amendment, while St. Louis Cardinals pitcher
Jeff Suppan was among a group of sports stars speaking against it.
Missouri also is a battlefront in the debate over smoking; along with South
Dakota and California, it has a hefty increase in tobacco taxes on its ballot.
In California alone the two big U.S. tobacco companies, Philip Morris and R.J.
Reynolds, have spent more than $56 million fighting a tax that would boost the
average price of a cigarette pack to $6.55.
Even more money -- a state record of $133 million -- has been raised in the
fight over California's Proposition 87, which would tax companies drilling for
oil in the state. The proposition's aim is to raise $4 billion to promote
alternative fuels and energy-efficient vehicles.
To compete against the oil companies, which have contributed more than $80
million, Hollywood producer Stephen Bing alone gave $43 million to the
environmentalist coalition supporting the tax.
Other noteworthy California measures would implement public financing of
political campaigns and require lifetime satellite-tracked monitoring of many
sex offenders.
Nevada and Colorado both offer measures that would legalize possession of up to
an ounce of marijuana by anyone 21 and older. A measure in Rhode Island
would restore voting rights to felons on probation and parole.
Michigan voters will decide whether to bar the state government from using race
and gender to determine who gets into college, who gets hired and who receives
contracts. The measure is opposed by both the Democratic and Republican
candidates for governor and a slew of business, labor, educational and religious
groups, but recent polls indicate it has a chance.
Elsewhere, land use is a hot issue, partly as a backlash to the 2005 U.S.
Supreme Court ruling allowing the city of New London, Conn., to buy up homes to
make way for a private commercial development.
Eleven states will consider measures barring the government from taking private
property for a private use. In four states -- Arizona, California, Idaho
and Washington -- voters could require state and local authorities to compensate
property owners if land-use regulations lowered the value of their property.
In South Dakota, voters could make their state the first to strip immunity from
judges, exposing them to the possibility of lawsuits, fines and even jail.
Arizona voters will decide the most ballot measures -- 19 -- including four
arising from frustration over the influx of illegal immigrants. One
measure would make English the state's official language, another would deny
bail to illegal immigrants charged with a serious felony.
One Arizona measure has raised eyebrows far beyond state lines. As
incentive for residents to vote, it would award $1 million to a randomly
selected voter in each general election.
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