Ballot Issues Pile Up. Some Cultural, Some Big Money Changes.

Among the seven ballot propositions already approved, three are major advances in the cultural wars (wolves, abortion and citizenship), one is a straight- up partisan advantage effort (popular vote), and two raise more tax revenue (cigarette tax and Gallagher Amendment).

Three of the four waiting approval change the tax structure. Two are reductions and one (medical leave) is an increase. Casinos will most likely be left to self-regulate with one.

Ballot Issues With a Comment

Citizen Initiatives Approved

• Repeal national popular vote law. A lot of grass root support for repeal, but Democratic tide? Partisan Advantage
• More gray wolves. Urban vs. rural. Polls say popular, but is it a bad year to hassle ranchers? Cultural War
• Late term abortion prohibition. Get-out-the-vote item for pro and con activists. Polls say popular. Cultural War
• Only U.S. citizens can vote. Cultural War

State Legislature Referred

• Repeal Gallagher Amendment. Major tax shift for businesses and smaller local government districts. Increase Tax Revenue
• Raise cigarette and vaping products taxes. More Sin Taxes
• Rules on charitable gaming.

Pending Review of Signatures

• Lower state income tax of 4.63% to 4.55%. Major Tax Reduction
• Vote on “fees” that raise big revenue. Major Tax Limitation
• State-run medical leave. Major Business Tax Increase
• Casino cities (and their industries) able to set betting limits. Gaming in three cities becomes wide open.