2006 Colorado Ballot Issues
Submitted by webmaster on Mon, 2006-10-23 20:36.
Statewide issues placed on the Colorado ballot consist of two types:
Amendments to the Colorado Constitution
Only voters (NOT the Legislature) can change the Colorado Constitution. Amendments to Colorado Revised Statutes
Although approved by voters, amendments to the Colorado Revised Statutes may subsequently be changed by the Legislature.
All of the above ballot issues are addressed in the Colorado "Analysis of the 2006 Ballot Proposals" (Blue Book), prepared by the Colorado Legislative Council. While this analysis is intended to be without bias, the booklet has come under fire both in 2005 and 2006 for including mis-information designed to promote certain positions. You can read the current Colorado "Analysis of the 2006 Ballot Proposals" (Blue Book) online at: http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/bluebook/Bluebook2006.pdf
Only voters (NOT the Legislature) can change the Colorado Constitution. Amendments to Colorado Revised Statutes
Although approved by voters, amendments to the Colorado Revised Statutes may subsequently be changed by the Legislature.
Citizen Initiatives
A state-wide "Initiative" is a proposal by citizens who have gathered the required number of signatures (5% of the total number of votes cast for Secretary of State in the previous general election).| Amendment 38 – Petitions Extends the initiative process to all levels of Colorado government and simplifies the process. |
YES The LPCO Board of Directors recommends SUPPORT for this Amendment. For more details concerning support for this issue, visit: http://www.PRA2006.com |
| Amendment 39 - School District Spending Requirements Requires school districts to spend at least 65% of their operating budgets in each fiscal year on classroom instruction. |
NO The LPCO Board of Directors recommends OPPOSING this Amendment. Local schools are best capable of deciding how to budget their monies according to local priorities - without state mandates. For more details concerning opposition for this issue, visit: http://www.COExcellentSchools.org |
| Amendment 40 - Term Limits for Judges Limits the terms of Colorado Appeals Court Judges and Supreme Court justices to 10 years. Requires retention elections for Colorado Appeals Court Judges and Supreme Court justices every 4 years. |
The LPCO Board of Directors has no official position on this Amendment. |
| Amendment 41 - Ethics in Government Establishes new ethics guidelines for public officers and elected officials. |
The LPCO Board of Directors has no official position on this Amendment. |
| Amendment 42 - Minimum Wage Increases the minimum wage from $5.15/hour to 6.85/hour to be adjusted annually for inflation. Also increases the minimum wage for workers who receive tips from $2.13/hour to 3.83/hour to be adjusted annually for inflation. |
NO The LPCO Board of Directors recommends OPPOSING this Amendment. The role of government is to protect people, their rights and their property. While government may become involved in resolving contract disputes, it is outside the scope of government to mandate wages. Economists Richard Burkhauser, Kenneth Couch and David Wittenberg estimate that every 10 percent increase in the minimum reduces employment by between 2 percent and 6 percent. This increase is much more than 10%. Coloradoans can also expect to see increases in costs for goods and services if Amendment 42 is approved. For more information on the harmful effects of minimum wage laws, visit: http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa106.html http://www.cato.org/dailys/11-01-99.html |
| Amendment 43 – Marriage Would define "marriage" in Colorado as ONLY a union between one man and one woman. |
NO The LPCO Board of Directors recommends OPPOSING this Amendment. The role of government is to protect people, their rights and their property. NOT define religious terms and ceremonies. |
| Amendment 44 - Marijuana Possession Allows anyone 21 years old or older to legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana. |
YES The LPCO Board of Directors recommends SUPPORT for this Amendment. Adults in a free society should be able to decide for themselves which recreational drugs they choose to (or not to) use. Recreational use of marijuana alone is a victimless crime. Further, prohibiting substances creates a black market for those drugs - leading to a rise in their abuse. For more details concerning support for this issue, visit: http://www.saferchoice.org |
Referendums (to change the Colorado Revised Statutes)
A referendum (or referred measure) is a proposal by the Colorado state Legislature which is referred to the citizens for a vote.| Referendum E - Property Tax Reduction for Disabled Veterans Establishes a property tax reduction for disabled veterans |
NO The LPCO Board of Directors recommends OPPOSING this Referendum. While Libertarians typically support tax breaks, the LPCO Board members agree with opponents in that Ref. E would create a special interest tax break benefiting a select few. Care of veterans is the responsibility of the federal government. |
| Referendum F - Recall Deadlines Requires deadlines set by the General Assembly (Legislature) for recall petitions to be set in statute rather than in the Constitution. Also requires recall elections to be held as part of the general election if the election is 50-90 days after petition protests have been completed. |
NO The LPCO Board of Directors recommends OPPOSING this Referendum. Citizens should be able to remove unsuitable officials as quickly as possible and replace them with elected officials of their choice. |
| Referendum G - Repeal of Obsolete Provisions Deletes obsolete and outdated requirements as well as gender specific language. |
YES The LPCO Board of Directors recommends SUPPORT for this Referendum. |
| Referendum H - Elimination of a State Business Income Tax Deduction Eliminates a State income tax employee expense deduction for a business that pays an illegal alien to perform work. |
The LPCO Board of Directors has no official position on this Referendum. |
| Referendum I - Domestic Partnerships Provides same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain benefits, protections and responsibilities afforded by Colorado law to spouses, consistent with the principles of equity under the law. However, it also maintains that "marriage" is defined as one man and one woman. |
YES The LPCO Board of Directors recommends SUPPORT for this Referendum. While the LPCO Board of Directors believe that the government has NO place in defining marriage, same-sex couples should receive equal treatment under the law as married couples. |
| Referendum J - School District Spending Requirements Requires school districts to spend at least 65% of their operating budgets in each fiscal year on services directly affecting student achievement. |
NO The LPCO Board of Directors recommends OPPOSING this Referendum. Local schools are best capable of deciding how to budget their monies according to local priorities - without state mandates. |
| Referendum K - Immigration Lawsuit Against the Federal Government Directs the Colorado Attorney General to initiate or join other states in a lawsuit against the U.S. Attorney General and demand the federal government enforce existing federal immigration laws. |
The LPCO Board of Directors has no official position on this Referendum. |
