Voters'
Guide to the 2008 Propositions
The Pima County Democratic Party has taken positions on the following ballot items and expects to have positions on others in the near future.
Note that all statewide propositions passed by the voters can only be changed significantly by another statewide vote, or under certain conditions by a supermajority of the legislature, making it difficult to modify them. If you do not understand all the wording in a proposition or disagree with parts of it, consider voting NO and working for change within the Legislature.
Vote
YES! on 201, 300, 401, 403
Vote NO! on 100, 101, 102, 105, 200
All the Propositions
Note: Items in the 100 series are amendments to the Arizona Constitution. The other propositions will take effect as laws. Prop 401 is only for voters in the city of South Tucson. Prop 403 is only for those living in the Tucson Unified School District.
Proposition 100: Real Estate Transfer Tax. Vote NO!
Objective: To amend the constitution to prohibit any new tax, fee or other assessment on the sale, purchase or conveyance of real estate after December 31, 2007
Why we urge a NO vote: This amendment would forbid local and state governments from creating new sources of revenue for programs that are either mandated or necessary to help Arizona grow in the future in areas such as education, transportation and health care.
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Proposition 101: Medical Choice. Vote NO!
Objective: To amend the constitution to prohibit laws that restrict a person’s choice of private health care plans, interfere with the right to pay directly for medical services or obtain or decline coverage in any health care plan.
Why we urge a NO vote: This amendment pretends to offer more health care choices, but it would actually limit medical choice, make new innovative programs impossible, and possibly eliminate current insurance programs such as AHCCCS or Healthcare Group of Arizona.
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Proposition 102: Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage. Vote NO!
Objective: To Amend the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as a “union of one man and one woman.”
Why we urge a NO vote: This referendum seeks to write discrimination against a minority group (gays and lesbians) into the Arizona Constitution. Arizona already has statutory law which prohibits marriage between persons of the same sex. A similar initiative in 2006 was rejected by Arizona voters.
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Proposition 105: Majority Rule. Vote NO!
Objective: To amend the Constitution so that any initiative that raises taxes, fees or other spending obligations requires a majority of registered voters to pass. (Currently, these initiatives need a majority of those who actually vote in an election).
Why we urge a NO vote: This is an anti-democratic measure. A registered voter who fails to vote would in essence be counted as a NO vote. The initiative is intended to make it impossible to enact initiatives to fund needed programs such as education and health care, because turnout is often low in these elections.
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Proposition 200: Payday Loan Reform Act. Vote NO!
Objective: There is currently a "sunset" provision that would end state authorization for payday lenders. This is due to expire in 2010, ending the predatory payday loan business in Arizona. This measure would authorize pay day lending to continue indefinitely in exchange for making minor reforms such as lowering the allowable interest rates (which are still exorbitant).
Why we urge a NO vote: Predatory lenders prey on and victimize the working poor and military families who find themselves in financial distress, charging very high interest rates. We need to rid our state of these predatory lenders and let the authorization expire in 2010 as planned, not make minor reforms that will allow these predatory practices to continue.
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Proposition 201: Homeowners’ Bill of Rights Vote YES!
Objective: To allow prospective homebuyer lawsuits against sellers, require seller inspection and 10-year warranty.
Why we urge a YES vote: This proposition is sponsored by Labor unions and is intended to give added protection to new homebuyers, including a 10-year warranty.
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Proposition 300: Increase in Legislator’s Salaries. Vote YES!
Objective:To increase salaries of state legislators from $24,000 to $30,000 per year.
Why we urge a YES vote: The last legislative raise was more than 12 years ago. Many potential candidates are kept from running because they cannot live on a legislator’s salary. Raising the salary will increase the number of qualified people who can consider serving in the State Legislature.
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Proposition 401: Amendment to the City Charter Relating to Treatment of Greyhounds. (Only to be voted on by voters in the City of South Tucson) Vote YES!
Objective: This amendment will mandate certain types of improved treatment of greyhounds in the racing industry.
Why we urge a YES vote: We support humane treatment of animals and this amendment should result in better conditions for the greyhounds.
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Proposition 403: Tucson School District (TUSD) budget override. (Only to be voted on by people living in Tucson Unified School District.) Vote YES!
Objective: To allow the district to increase its budget by a maximum of 10% in order to pay for needed improvements.
Why we urge a YES vote: Let’s put money directly into TUSD classrooms in the form of reduced class sizes, salary incentives for hard to hire teachers in math, science and special education, and expansion of the art and music program to all our schools. Our schools need better funding.
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