Ballot packed with measures awaits voters

Colorado voters will face one of the longest ballots in state history for the Nov. 4 election, deciding on issues ranging from how severance taxes should be used to the age requirement for serving in the state Legislature.

In all, voters will be asked to consider 10 amendments and four referenda.

“It’s an extremely long ballot,” said Summit County Clerk Cheri Brunvand. “We are encouraging people to vote by mail or to do early voting ... We’re expecting extremely long lines at the vote centers with the length of the ballot.”

Despite the length and time to go through the ballots, political leaders want voters to consider the different measures carefully, because the results will become state law.

“Don’t skip the ballot measures and just vote for candidates,” state Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon said in an e-mail. “These ballot measures effect the schools your children attend, the roads you drive on, the air you breathe, the water you drink, your civil rights and the welfare of Colorado’s disabled citizens.”

Here’s a brief synopsis of the amendments and referenda on the ballot:

• Amendment 46 would essentially ban Affirmative Action in Colorado. It would prohibit state and local government from basing decisions on race, color, sex, or ethnic origin. Proponents say the amendment gets rid of discrimination that occurs when people are hired or chosen for reasons other than qualifications. Arguments against the amendment are that discrimination still exists and this amendment hinders some individuals from succeeding. The amendment also leaves discrimination and preferential treatment undefined, leaving the exact impact of the measure uncertain.

• Amendment 47 would prohibit requiring employees to join a union. Proponents argue the measure would give employees freedom to choose whether to participate in a union and creates greater flexibility for job seekers. Critics contend that it would undermine the effectiveness of labor unions.

• Amendment 48 tackles the abortion debate by defining a person to include “any human being from the moment of fertilization.” The amendment could provide legal support to help prohibit abortions in Colorado. Critics say it may limit stem-cell research, treatments for cancer, some forms of birth control and affect other laws with the term “person” in them.

• Amendment 49 would not allow public-employee paycheck deductions, except for tax withholdings, charities and savings. Proponents say the measure would stop deductions for political groups and protects employees from making unwanted contributions. Opponents say it intrudes on the right the choose paycheck deductions and that employees have the option to cancel automatic deductions.

• Amendment 50 would allow the state’s three gambling towns to raise betting limits from $5 to $100, with 72 percent of the increased gaming revenues dedicated to shoring up the state’s community colleges.

• Amendment 51 would increase the state sales taxes from 2.9 percent to 3.1 percent by July 1, 2010, to help pay for services for people with developmental disabilities. The measure would add one penny to every $5 purchase.

• Amendment 52 would require the state to spend a portion of state severance taxes — derived primarily from oil and gas drilling — for highway projects. It would shift an estimated $225 million currently being used for water projects to relieve congestion on Interstate 70 and in other parts of the state.

• Amendment 53 has been withdrawn. It will appear on the ballot, but votes will not be counted.

• Amendment 54 would, in essence, prohibit government contractors from contributing to political campaigns and parties.

• Amendments 55, 56 and 57 have been withdrawn. They will appear on the ballot, but votes will not be counted.

• Amendment 58 would increase severance taxes on oil and natural gas companies by eliminating a state tax credit, and it would allocate the increased revenue to sources such as college scholarships, renewable energy projects and water-treatment grants. Proponents say the oil and gas industry no longer needs the state tax credit, raising the costs will not hinder production amounts and that the new money will help improve the state’s economy, environment and infrastructure. Critics argue that it would make Colorado less attractive to the oil and gas industry and may increase energy prices for Colorado consumers.

• Amendment 59 would dedicate tax rebates to primary public education, instead of refunding them to taxpayers. Proponents for the amendment say it provides a future source of money for education without raising taxes and relieves pressure to cut spending on other programs caused by Amendment 23, which requires an increase in education spending no matter the economic situation. Critics say that it permanently eliminates rebates to Colorado taxpayers, eliminates guaranteed funding increases for education and places future funding for education at the discretion of the state legislature, which could provide less than inflationary increases for education in order to pay for other programs.

• Referendum L would lower the age requirement to serve in the state legislature from 25 to 21.

• Referendum M would remove an archaic provision in the Colorado Constitution that allows state legislature to delay taxing land value increases that result from planting hedges, orchards and forest on private lands. The argument for the referendum are it reduces unnecessary language in the constitution and, because the provision is not used today, it will not increase individual property taxes. The argument against the referendum is it would remove the possibility of future reforestation through a tax incentive.

• Referendum N would repeal historic language in the state constitution that prohibits importing, manufacturing and selling impure alcohol and removes the requirement that bars provide food.

• Referendum 0 would raise the requirements for citizens to place constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot while making its easier to place statutory changes on the ballot. It would decrease the number of signatures needed to put a statutory initiative on the ballot from 5 percent to 4 percent of registered voters and increase the number needed for a constitutional initiative from 5 percent to 6 percent while requiring 8 percent of signatures to come from each congressional district.

Jonathan Batuello can be reached at (970) 668-4653 or jbatuello@summitdaily.com.