09-29-2016, 11:52 AM
With all of the focus on the circus that is the race for the White House, we often neglect to focus on issues that really matter more to our daily lives in our states. I know there are many different states represented here, but I figure we could talk a little about any ballot issues coming up, state legislature or gubernatorial races if you have any, or even any interesting House/Senate races that are heating up.
For me, here in Virginia, I have a House race and two constitutional amendments to vote on. I don't see the House race as very competitive, even though Goodlatte is a major part of our problem on the Hill right now and has been there since 1993 (even after saying he was capping himself at three terms when he ran back in 1992). Degner is a good opponent, but it's one of those situations where people recognize a problem but refuse to acknowledge their person has anything to do with it.
The two amendments are interesting. One is to make it so that surviving spouses of public servants (LEOs, Fire/Rescue, etc.) killed in the line of duty may be exempt from property taxes for their primary residence provided they have not remarried. This one is sure to win with no problems.
The other amendment, which is ballot question one, is adding right-to-work in our constitution. We have been right-to-work since the Taft-Hartley Act allowed for it in 1947, but it has been statutory law, not constitutional. Sadly, the bill was sponsored by my own state Senator and it is nothing more than political theater. The law has not been at risk for 70 years, and it will continue to not be at risk. It is nothing more than grandstanding, and even some of my GOP favoring political nerd friends agree that this amendment is unnecessary, and truthfully doesn't deserve to be added. We Virginians tend to have a little pride in our constitution.
So what's going on in your states?
For me, here in Virginia, I have a House race and two constitutional amendments to vote on. I don't see the House race as very competitive, even though Goodlatte is a major part of our problem on the Hill right now and has been there since 1993 (even after saying he was capping himself at three terms when he ran back in 1992). Degner is a good opponent, but it's one of those situations where people recognize a problem but refuse to acknowledge their person has anything to do with it.
The two amendments are interesting. One is to make it so that surviving spouses of public servants (LEOs, Fire/Rescue, etc.) killed in the line of duty may be exempt from property taxes for their primary residence provided they have not remarried. This one is sure to win with no problems.
The other amendment, which is ballot question one, is adding right-to-work in our constitution. We have been right-to-work since the Taft-Hartley Act allowed for it in 1947, but it has been statutory law, not constitutional. Sadly, the bill was sponsored by my own state Senator and it is nothing more than political theater. The law has not been at risk for 70 years, and it will continue to not be at risk. It is nothing more than grandstanding, and even some of my GOP favoring political nerd friends agree that this amendment is unnecessary, and truthfully doesn't deserve to be added. We Virginians tend to have a little pride in our constitution.
So what's going on in your states?
"A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be either great or a democracy..." - TR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
