Utah
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2010
The legislature referred a constitutional amendment to 2010 ballot that would enable corporate intimidation of workers and prohibit employees from forming a union through majority sign-up. The so-called Save Our Secret Ballot measure is part of a multi-state ballot initiative and referenda campaign, based in Las Vegas. The campaign seeks to undermine and derail the Employee Free Choice Act by spreading the lie that it would eliminate secret ballots for all elections, including those for public officials and votes on ballot initiatives. The truth is, the Employee Free Choice Act has nothing to do with "elections for public office or public votes on initiatives or referenda," and it absolutely protects workers right to choose a secret ballot in union elections. The choice would be for workers, not their bosses, to decide how to form a union. Even the Wall Street Journal admitted that, "The bill doesn't remove the secret-ballot option from the National Labor Relations Act." SOS Ballot is a frivolous ballot initiative whose supporters even acknowledge will lose in court. The US Chamber of Commerce, the National Right to Work Committee, and the author of SOS Ballot have admitted that that the ballot initiative is a losing legal argument. According to the US Chamber of Commerce's own attorney, Willis J. Goldsmith, the SOS Ballot initiative would have no impact on labor law, even if the Employee Free Choice Act were to be passed by Congress. Greg Mourad, the legislative director of the National Right to Work Committee, has said that the courts would hold that "EFCA preempted the state ballot initiatives." Even Clint Bolick of the Goldwater Institute, member of the SOS Ballot advisory board, and author of the ballot language has acknowledged that federal law trumps a conflicting state law or constitutional provision.
Additionally, two initiatives are currently circulating signature petitions for the 2010 ballot. One would institute progressive tax brackets similar to the federal system and repeal the current flat income tax rate. This bill amends the individual income tax act by repealing the single rate individual income tax and establishing a graduated bracket system for individuals and trusts and estates. The other potential measure creates a redistricting commission to be composed of citizens to set standards.
2008
For more 2008 election information, click here.
For additional information please check with the Utah Secretary of State: http://elections.utah.gov/
