Editorials and Opinion Pieces

Hi-ho, Hi-ho, It's Off to Vote We Go

BY: Karen Bailey
DATE: August 27, 2002
WORD COUNT: 757

With the Senate up for grabs and the future of the House leadership in peril, the typical sleepiness of mid-term elections may hinge on the initiative process. An often overlooked contributor to congressional results, initiatives generate voter turnout during often less-publicized mid-term elections.

Groups like the National Conference of State Legislators claim that budget shortfalls in many states are due to revenue and expenditure limitations often passed by the initiative and referendum process. Big spending legislators cry foul at any attempt to limit spending. Oh, the humanity! If we cut spending our schools will shut down! The need for a dose of reality and government truths is sadly needed: enter initiatives 2002.

Voters in five northern Virginia counties and the Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads region will have one more box to check in November. Both regions will be asked to approve an increase in their sales tax to fund transportation projects. The northern Virginia voters will be asked to approve a half-cent increase (11%) to fund the construction of congestion-free roads. Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads voters are being encouraged to approve a one-cent increase (22%) for transportation congestion relief as well. Virginia voters beware, big-spending legislators created a transportation funding crisis, not a lack of revenue. The legislature cut transportation spending in the budget while overall spending increased by 7%. Oh, and if you think that construction on the new and improved road systems will happen over night, think again. It will take eight years before the state collects enough money from this tax increase to even start the proposed projects. Governor Warner and his supporters prominent land developers continue to campaign hard against the pro-taxpayer and environmental groups in this highly contested and publicized issue.

In Oregon, voters will be choosing the fate of health care services in the state this November. Measure 23 will eliminate competition in Oregon's health care system by creating a government monopoly of health care services in the state. This measure will force taxpayers into the government-run program instead of having the freedom to choose their provider. Funding from this program will come from Oregon's new, progressive personal income and business wage taxes - what else does this mean to Oregon's taxpayers? Well, for employers that provide health care to their employees at a lesser cost than the government's version, either you or your employees will be responsible for paying the difference in the annual bill sent to you care of the state of Oregon. Simply put, the Oregon Comprehensive Health Care Finance Board will determine the minimum cost of any health care service in the state, public or private. The language of the measure even acknowledges that this plan will put health care service providers out of work by allotting up to two percent of the first year's operating budget for the retraining of displaced health care workers. Measure 23 is endorsed by groups like the American Federation of Teachers, the United Steel Workers, and the National Association of Letter Carriers - it is interesting to see so many national organizations supportive of a state measure that will favor big government and hurt small business.

An initiative sponsored by Arnold Schwarzenegger in California attempts to use state money to fund before and after school programs - funded by up to $550 million in taxpayer dollars annually. For a state that is facing a $24 billion budget shortfall (nearly half of the total deficits of all states combined) this is not the time to be asking taxpayers for some additional cash. The initiative touts cost saving lingo to entice voters to say yes: "After school programs save taxpayer money by reducing crime, reducing health costs associated with drug and alcohol use, cutting grade repetition . . ." Such rhetoric is clearly specious. The California Teachers Association backs this initiative while teachers themselves have had to surrender their unique state tax credit to fix budget shortfalls. Who is looking out for the interests of the teachers?

Typically, conservatives have a higher voter turnout during mid-term elections versus their counterparts (NES Guide to Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior). According to Professor Mark Smith at the University of Washington, prominent ballot initiatives and referenda can increase voter turnout by as much as three points during mid-term elections. This is a number that cannot be ignored while the makeup of Congress hangs in the balance. Prominent initiatives and referenda as discussed in this piece can drive voters to the polls on November 5th.

Karen Bailey is state projects manager at Americans for Tax Reform.