http://bisc.bluestatedigital.com/index.php en jessica@ballot.org Copyright 2008 2008-11-09T16:30:01-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/abortion_fight_keys_on_sd/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/abortion_fight_keys_on_sd/#When:16:30:01Z South Dakota will be America's battleground in the passionate dispute about abortion rights for years to come, a result of easy ballot access and a committed force of local anti-abortion activists. South Dakota, Reproductive Freedom 2008-11-09T16:30:01-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/6_of_26_conservatives_lost_big_on_ballot_measures_while_progressives_made_s/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/6_of_26_conservatives_lost_big_on_ballot_measures_while_progressives_made_s/#When:17:02:00Z The win record for conservatives this year is paltry -right-wing backers won only 23% of what they conceptualized and supported, and they failed to qualify even all that was attempted. Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Education, Energy, Equal Opportunity, Health Care, Immigration, Investment/Taxes, Reproductive Freedom, Economic Security 2008-11-08T17:02:00-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/colorado_voters_preserve_affirmative_action/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/colorado_voters_preserve_affirmative_action/#When:21:06:01Z Coloradans voted down Amendment 46, becoming the first state to reject an initiative being pushed across the nation that would have eliminated race- and gender- based affirmative action programs. Colorado, Equal Opportunity 2008-11-07T21:06:01-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/depraved_right_wing_attack_efforts_go_down_in_flames/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/depraved_right_wing_attack_efforts_go_down_in_flames/#When:16:57:00Z But the 2008 initiative scorecard totals more victories than failures, and it reflects the same broad political sentiment in the country in favor of progressive change that was expressed in the election of Barack Obama. California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Energy, Health Care, Investment/Taxes, Reproductive Freedom, Economic Security 2008-11-07T16:57:00-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/angle_gives_up_legal_fight_on_tax_petition/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/angle_gives_up_legal_fight_on_tax_petition/#When:16:09:00Z Former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle has ended her legal battle for a public vote on her petition to limit raising property taxes. Nevada, Investment/Taxes 2008-11-06T16:09:00-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/ohioans_approve_caps_on_payday_interest_rates/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/ohioans_approve_caps_on_payday_interest_rates/#When:22:03:00Z With Issue 5, payday lenders tried to partially overturn House Bill 545, which will lower the interest rate on payday loans from the current 391 percent ($15 per $100 on a two-week loan) to 28 percent. Ohio, Economic Security 2008-11-05T22:03:00-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/merit_pay_for_oregon_teachers_fails/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/merit_pay_for_oregon_teachers_fails/#When:21:51:00Z Measure 60 was failing by 21 points. Oregon, Economic Security 2008-11-05T21:51:00-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/voters_say_yes_to_state_taxes_no_to_antiabortion_measures/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/voters_say_yes_to_state_taxes_no_to_antiabortion_measures/#When:21:27:00Z Unlike the presidential and congressional elections, there appeared to be no decisive drift either rightward or leftward. Instead, voters seemed to be picking and choosing based on local conditions. California, Colorado, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Energy, Investment/Taxes, Reproductive Freedom, Economic Security 2008-11-05T21:27:00-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/equalitys_winding_path/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/equalitys_winding_path/#When:19:03:02Z Even as the nation shattered one barrier of intolerance, we were disappointed that voters in four states chose to reinforce another. Ballot measures were approved in Arkansas, Arizona, Florida and California that discriminate against couples of the same sex. We do not view these results as reason for despair. California, LGBT Equality 2008-11-05T19:03:02-05:00 http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/equalitys_winding_path1/ http://www.ballot.org/news/entry/equalitys_winding_path1/#When:16:49:01Z Even as the nation shattered one barrier of intolerance, we were disappointed that voters in four states chose to reinforce another. Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, LGBT Equality 2008-11-05T16:49:01-05:00