Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The Arizona Republic reports again today that the Libertarian Party, the Democratic Party, and possibly the Green Party are exploring legal action and possibly a citizens referendum to challenge the Voter Suppression Act, HB 2305. Opponents
vow to fight new ballot hurdles.
There is presently a citizens referendum being circulated by teabagger asshats Ron Gould and Frank Antenori to challenge Governor Jan Brewer's Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration/expansion plan, by an organization laughingly called the "United Republican Alliance of Principled Conservatives." One, Republicans are anything but "united" on this issue, and two, "principled conservatives" is an oxymoron given the present condition of the so-called conservative movement. The Secretary of State lists this citizens referendum as "Health and Welfare Budget Reconciliation," R-01-2014. 86,405 valid signatures are needed by the September 11, 2013 deadline.
So what are the initiatives currently circulating out there for the 2014 ballot? There are two being circulated by professional petition circulator Fox Petitions for undisclosed groups.
One is the "Elimination of Redundant and Ineffective Government Laws, Rules, Policies, Regulations and Ordinances Act," C-01-2014. 259,213 valid signatures are needed by the July 3, 2014 deadline. (Note: this measure is redundant itself, because this is the function of the state legislature).
The other is the "Criminal Penalties Act," C-02-2014. This measure will mandate a criminal sentencing scheme that is commensurate with the magnitude of the crime and age of person. It will eliminate mandatory minimum sentences and return sentencing discretion to the trial judge. 259,213 valid signatures are needed by the July 3, 2014 deadline.
Then there are the usual anti-union suspects, "The Protect Employee Paychecks from Politics Act," C-03-2014. This measure would prohibit all employers in Arizona from taking money from an employee's paycheck and using it for political purposes without the express written permission of the employee renewed annually. 259,213 valid signatures are needed by the July 3, 2014 deadline.
There is the marijuana decriminalization initiative, "Safer Arizona," C-04-2014. This is a constitutional amendment which provides for the regulation of Marijuana; permitting a voting age person to consume or possess limited amounts of Marijuana; providing for the licensing of cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and retail stores; permitting local governments to regulate or prohibit such facilities; requiring the legislature to enact an excise tax to be levied upon wholesale sales of Marijuana; requiring half of the revenue raised annually by such tax be credited to Arizona Department of Health Services. 259,213 valid signatures are needed by the July 3, 2014 deadline.
There is the recently filed marriage equality initiative, which is listed by the Secretary of State under the odd title "Equal Marriage Arizona in Support of," C-05-2014. This measure will define marriage in Arizona as being a union of two persons. It will ensure the protection of religious freedoms by specifying that religious organizations, religious associations, and religious societies in Arizona will not be required to solemnize or officiate any particular marriage or religious rite of marriage. I understand that this measure may be amended and refiled depending upon what the U.S. Supreme Court does this week. 259,213 valid signatures are needed by the July 3, 2014 deadline.
Finally, there is the recently filed "Label GMOs Arizona," I-01-2014. This measure is to ensure that any food offered for retail sale in Arizona is branded if it is, or may have been, entirely or partly produced with genetic engineering. 172,809 valid signatures are needed by the July 3, 2014 deadline.