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Arizona Propositions - 10/09/2008

The propositions appearing on this November's ballot can be confusing if you don't study the text of each one. I've done the legwork on these, and will outline the pro-freedom position on each one.

Prop 100: Protect Our Homes - YES

This measure prevents the legislature from enacting a real-estate transfer tax.  A real-estate transfer tax, something which currently does not exist in Arizona (but is being proposed in Tucson) would require that the seller of their home pay a tax at the time of the sale.  While I obviously wouldn't support a new tax of any type, one such as this comes at a particularly bad time.  When the real-estate market is slow, the last thing we need to do is put additional burden on those trying to sell their homes.

Prop 101: Medical Choice for Arizona - YES

With all the talk about "universal" health care, and single-payer systems, this initiative couldn't come at a better time.  Prop 101 will ensure that Arizonans will always have a choice on where to secure their health care needs so that any proposed single-payer system (one that would prevent consumer choice, by law) would not be enforceable.

Prop 102: Marriage Protection Amendment - NO

The name is fancy, but what it essentially does is modify the state constitution to define "marriage" as between one man and one woman, effectively outlawing relationships that don't fit into this guideline (i.e. preventing the existence of gay marriage).  Marriage is a private act between consenting adults and ideally should have no involvement whatsoever from government.

Prop 105: Majority Rules - YES

This proposition would require that any future ballot initiatives require a majority of eligible electors (not just those voting) to pass the initiative if it would require a tax increase.  The plain benefit here is that it will be more difficult for special interests to use ballot initiatives as their personal ATMs.

Prop 200: Payday Loan Reform Act - NO

This is a tough one if you understand the history behind it.  The Stop Payday Loans Initiative was introduced earlier this year, which would have abolished all payday loans in Arizona.  So the Payday Loan Reform Act was introduced by the payday loan industry as a compromise to appease the former group and to be able to challenge their claims.  However, the Stop Payday Loans Initiative didn't collect enough signatures to make it to the ballot.  So now we're left with a single initiative that would restrict the payday loan industry, which the industry itself introduced.  I oppose this initiative because it's a restraint on an industry that exists and operates only because of the voluntary use of that business by it's customers.

Prop 201: Homeowners Bill of Rights - NO

It seems everything is being called a "bill of rights" these days, especially things that benefits one group at the expense of another.  This initiative specifically puts a burden on home-builders requiring that they provide services that their customers aren't demanding.  Naturally, this is going to increase the cost of new homes, even for those who have no interest in receiving the supposed benefit that this initiative provides.

Prop 202: Stop Illegal Hiring - NO

Immigration has become a big issue among voters, and especially so in Arizona being that we're a border state.  This country was built on immigrants that wanted to come here and were hard-working.  I find it difficult to believe that we're now wanting to turn those same hard-working individuals away.  Understandably, many immigrants enter into our country without going throught he proper process, primarily because the process is extremely time-consuming and costly.  The correct solution is to simplify the process so that others who want to work and contribute to our society can do so within days or maybe weeks, but not years or decades.  And certainly the solution is not to attack the employers, those that provide jobs for both American citizens as well as hard-working immigrants.

Prop 300: State Legislator Salaries - NO

This would increase Arizona state legislator salaries from $24,000 annually to $30,000.  The legislator has created a budget that puts us in the red $1.7 billion dollars.  Do I really need to explain why we shouldn't be giving them a raise?