November 4, 2008 Washington State Ballot Measures
11/05/2008 8 AM Update:
Initiative 985 has been decisively defeated by the Washington voters while Initiative 1000 and 1029 have been passed by wide margins.
Initiative 985 41% yes/59% no
Initiative 1000 59% yes/41% no
Initiative 1029 74% yes/26% no
For latest update and specific vote numbers go to the Washington State Secretary of State's election webpage for statewide initiatives.
previous post:
Three statewide initiatives will be on the Novemebr 4, 2008 Washington State ballot.
Majority Rules Blog recommends you vote:
No on Initiative 985
Yes on Initiative 1000
Yes on Initiative 1029
BALLOT MEASURE I-985
Ballot Title
Initiative Measure No. 985 concerns transportation.
This measure would open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during specified hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding, and dedicate certain taxes, fines, tolls and other revenues to traffic-flow purposes.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would: open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all vehicles Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 a.m. Monday; require traffic light synchronization, and mandate increased funding for roadside assistance. Certain existing revenues, including 15% of state sales and use taxes on vehicles, certain traffic infraction penalties, and certain tolls would be dedicated to traffic-flow purposes.
No on 985 - http://www.noon985.com/
BALLOT MEASURE I-1000 (Death With Dignity)
Ballot Title
Initiative Measure No. 1000 concerns allowing certain terminally ill competent adults to obtain lethal prescriptions.
This measure would permit terminally ill, competent, adult Washington residents, who are medically predicted to have six months or less to live, to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would permit terminally ill, competent, adult Washington residents medically predicted to die within six months, to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician. The measure requires two oral and one written request, two physicians to diagnose the patient and determine the patient is competent, a waiting period, and physician verification of an informed patient decision. Physicians, patients and others acting in good faith compliance would have criminal and civil immunity.
Yes on I-1000 http://itsmydecision.org/
BALLOT MEASURE I-1029
Ballot Title
Initiative Measure No. 1029 concerns long-term care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
This measure would require long-term care workers to be certified as home care aides based on an examination, with exceptions; increase training and criminal background check requirements; and establish disciplinary standards and procedures.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Ballot Measure Summary
Beginning January 1, 2010, this measure would require certification for long-term care workers for the elderly and persons with disabilities, requiring a written examination, increased and additional criminal background checks. Continuing education would be required in order to retain certification. Disciplinary standards and procedures would be applied to long-term care workers who are certified as home care aides. Certain workers would be exempt based on prior employment, training or other circumstances.
Yes on I-1029 - http://www.yeson1029.org/
Note - State Ballot Measures Nov 2008 – for actual text go to http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/people.aspx?y=2008
Initiative 985 has been decisively defeated by the Washington voters while Initiative 1000 and 1029 have been passed by wide margins.
Initiative 985 41% yes/59% no
Initiative 1000 59% yes/41% no
Initiative 1029 74% yes/26% no
For latest update and specific vote numbers go to the Washington State Secretary of State's election webpage for statewide initiatives.
previous post:
Three statewide initiatives will be on the Novemebr 4, 2008 Washington State ballot.
Majority Rules Blog recommends you vote:
No on Initiative 985
Yes on Initiative 1000
Yes on Initiative 1029
BALLOT MEASURE I-985
Ballot Title
Initiative Measure No. 985 concerns transportation.
This measure would open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during specified hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding, and dedicate certain taxes, fines, tolls and other revenues to traffic-flow purposes.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would: open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all vehicles Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 a.m. Monday; require traffic light synchronization, and mandate increased funding for roadside assistance. Certain existing revenues, including 15% of state sales and use taxes on vehicles, certain traffic infraction penalties, and certain tolls would be dedicated to traffic-flow purposes.
No on 985 - http://www.noon985.com/
BALLOT MEASURE I-1000 (Death With Dignity)
Ballot Title
Initiative Measure No. 1000 concerns allowing certain terminally ill competent adults to obtain lethal prescriptions.
This measure would permit terminally ill, competent, adult Washington residents, who are medically predicted to have six months or less to live, to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would permit terminally ill, competent, adult Washington residents medically predicted to die within six months, to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician. The measure requires two oral and one written request, two physicians to diagnose the patient and determine the patient is competent, a waiting period, and physician verification of an informed patient decision. Physicians, patients and others acting in good faith compliance would have criminal and civil immunity.
Yes on I-1000 http://itsmydecision.org/
BALLOT MEASURE I-1029
Ballot Title
Initiative Measure No. 1029 concerns long-term care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
This measure would require long-term care workers to be certified as home care aides based on an examination, with exceptions; increase training and criminal background check requirements; and establish disciplinary standards and procedures.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
Ballot Measure Summary
Beginning January 1, 2010, this measure would require certification for long-term care workers for the elderly and persons with disabilities, requiring a written examination, increased and additional criminal background checks. Continuing education would be required in order to retain certification. Disciplinary standards and procedures would be applied to long-term care workers who are certified as home care aides. Certain workers would be exempt based on prior employment, training or other circumstances.
Yes on I-1029 - http://www.yeson1029.org/
Note - State Ballot Measures Nov 2008 – for actual text go to http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/people.aspx?y=2008
Labels: 2008 General Election, Initiative 1000, Initiative 1029, Initiative 985, Nov 4, Washington state Initiatives
Posted by Steve Zemke at 1:14 PM | Permanent Link
1 Comments:
I've been remiss not to post my own opinions on these initiatives & hope to remedy that soon.
My default position is to vote No unless there is an extraordinarily compelling reason to support one.
I-1000 is the extraordinary exception. Even our Dem Governor is too timid to support it, yet common sense demands that this be passed over the will of legislators who shy away from such topics.
My rule of thumb goes like this:
If an initiative involves spending or restricting spending, it has to be EXTRA EXTRA Extraordinarily compelling to get me to support it. The public at large just can't comprehend percentages, and how spending or spending restrictions affect budgets, and don't have access to the tools to make such decisions.
If it restricts the rights of some particular group then the same extraordinary caution applies.
If it EXPANDS rights WITHOUT cost, then the bar is much lower, so I-1000 is an absolute no-brainer for me, because both of those are true, PLUS it is extremely compelling when one looks at the success of the Oregon law, and the piece of mind that the possibility of a graceful exit gives those whether they end up using it or not.
I-985 hardly needs discussion. It legislates details, (terrible, environmentally destructive, limiting, and expensive details at that) and should be the poster child for what should not be an initiative.
Now I admit that I've not studied I-1029 in detail, but it doesn't meet the low bar, and I'm just not compelled. Someone is going to need to take me aside and do some PASSIONATE convincing to get me to sign on to legislation whose total ramifications I have a hard time imagining. I'm sure the thing is well-intended, and I'm favorably disposed to the SEIU, but what of the concerns of family members who will be forced into required training when they may be facing all kinds of other hardships at the same time. And you certainly can't say the costs will necessarily be trivial. I signed the petition and voted for that animal trap prohibition, and I'm already regretting it. Who knew that it would force people to use poison instead of traps to deal with vermin issues ahead of time? Not me.
I-1000 is the shining and obvious exception. Otherwise it's No from me.
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