Here is the link to the ballot [PDF] I’ll be voting on in the upcoming election. Here is how I’ll be voting on the issues and why:
Issue 1: Referendum on Workers’ Compensation:
Although I might be missing some nuances to this legislation, especially in light of Bill Peirce’s stance against BWC, it appears to me that Issue 1 is providing some sensible amendments to current Workers’ Compensation law. As of now, I’ll be voting for Issue 1.
Issue 2: Minimum Wage Rate Increase:
I am voting for Issue 2. Having felt the pinch of minimum wage labor myself, I know how difficult it can be survive on a minimum wage job.
Issue 3: Allow in-state gambling/casinos:
I am voting against Issue 3. The reasoning behind this is simple. Everything I’ve seen about their campaign strategy is a three-card monte game, often gambling isn’t even mentioned in the ads, only an appeal to emotion, “Please think of the children!” Also, following much of the discussion at BrewedFreshDaily on the issue, I am convinced that gambling as an economic initiative is fundamentally flawed.
Issue 4: Smoking Issue #1:
This proposal would amend the Ohio Constitution to allow indoor smoking in a variety of public places and would counteract or create a loophole in any other law that would ban indoor smoking in public places. This bill is sponsored by tobacco companies. Voting Yes in Issue 4 would mean you would want to vote No on Issue 5, which is in direct opposition to this Issue. I’m voting against Issue 4, because although everyone talks about how it will be bad for business, I think people like beer more than cigarettes, and people who currently don’t go out to bars and other places because of the smoke [like me] will be more likely to do so if smoking in enclosed public places is restricted. Also, I don’t think an amendment about smoking belongs anywhere near the constitution.
Issue 5: Smoking Issue #2:
So I guess that means I’m voting for Issue 5, which is just a law and not a constitutional amendment. I grew up in a two-smoker household and my asthma and the chunks of yellow phlegm I used to cough up when I first started running are testament to the ill effects of second-hand smoke. I liken smoking in enclosed public places to any other sort of disturbance. Take it outside. Voting Yes on 5 means you want to vote No on 4, otherwise your votes will cancel each other out.
Issue 18: Cigarette Tax to fund the Arts in Cleveland:
Issue 18 would impose a 30¢ per pack cigarette tax on cigarettes purchased in the Cuyahoga County. The money from this tax would go to fund arts and cultural organizations throughout the county. At a Neighborhood Connections meeting I heard from a woman in favor of the Issue on the current state of Arts and Cultural funding in the county. Apparently all of the money to fund these institutions is private, from the Cleveland Foundation, or the Gund Foundation mainly. Other cities typically fund their arts and culture through the hotel tax, but in Cleveland that revenue goes to the Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau and to pay bond obligations on public buildings. Also, their campaign slogan is “It’s NOT a property tax.” which is the stupidest way to convince someone to vote for something as I’ve ever seen. I am voting against Issue 18, because while funding Arts and Cultural institutions and events is important, the problem in Cleveland is institutional, something a tax will only appear to fix.
Issue 19: Levy Adjustment to fund Health and Human Services in Cleveland:
Issue 19 will reapportion 1-thousandth of a cent from an existing levy for four years to fund health and human services organizations. As this is a tax-payer directed reapportionment of funding I will vote for Issue 19. The League of Women Voters offers the pros and cons [pdf] of this issue.
Issue 42: Should a local gas station be allowed to sell beer on Sundays:
There is a gas station down the street that wants to amend their liquor license to sell beer on Sundays. That’s fine with me. I will vote for Issue 42.
I wish I could agree with you on issue 3, but I simply can’t stand watching Indiana, West Virginia and Michigan benefit at Ohio resident’s cost anymore. Of course the opposition is going to try and taint this effort. Have you noticed that they make conflicting arguments? In one point they tell you that the real revenues from these facilities will only be $1.2 billion, which would only provide $324 million to the scholarship fund. They also acknowledge that Ohio residents gambled $1 billion last year in Indiana, West Virginia and Michigan. Their next argument says that this issue will create 109,000 problem gamblers. If you ask them where they got that number, you will find that it comes from a study that was done several years ago that was based on 18 full blown casinos in Ohio with revenues in excess of the $2.8 billion that the proponents are projecting. Someone needs to tell the opposition to make up their minds. Pick one argument, and don’t take us for being stupid! As far as the issue about the actual amendment, I read it. It doesn’t seem like the money can be used for anything but what the proponents are saying. At this point, even if the idiot politicians figured out a way to use it like the lottery money, wouldn’t that be better than giving it to the other states and their residents? The last issue related to this issue dictating where these nine facilities will be located is simply the best way to present this. I would rather vote on a specific issue than let the location of future casinos and who gets to own them be decided by some government controlled entity. If we were deciding on that type of method, I’m sure the group on brewed fresh daily would be arguing that the dirty politicians will be taking bribes and doing favors. On top of all that, wouldn’t you rather know where these things will be located rather than find out someone wants to build one in your neighborhood after the decision has already been made. I’m ok with the argument that gambling is bad, so why don’t people just use it rather than come up with all of this other bs.