Let me tell you how to vote!

Here is how Jeanie wants you to vote on the state issues this coming Nov. 4. Note that anything I feel strongly about is bolded.

Amendment 46: No. Discrimination still exists in today's society.

Amendment 47: No. If it passes, say goodbye to well-paying blue collar jobs. It hurts workers.

Amendment 48: NO WAY. If you only cast one no vote, please make it in regards to this amendment. Please help to protect a woman’s right to choose.

Below is from the Colorado Blue Book available at …

http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/bluebook/2008EnglishVersionforInternet.pdf

Arguments Against

01 Amendment 48 allows government interference in the doctor-patient relationship and could limit the exercise of independent medical judgment. The measure could restrict a doctor from using certain medical procedures and treatments. Furthermore, the measure may subject medical professionals to legal action for providing medical care to a woman of child-bearing age if it is determined to affect another "person."

02 Amendment 48 may limit the ability of individuals to make private, personal choices about their lives and health. The measure could be used to limit access to abortions and to prohibit medical care, including emergency contraception, commonly used forms of birth control, and treatments for cancer, tubal pregnancies, and infertility. The amendment may restrict some stem cell research that could lead to life-saving therapies for a variety of disabilities and illnesses.

03 Amendment 48 is more complex than adding a definition to the state constitution. Creating a definition of the word "person" in the constitution could impact many existing state laws containing the term. The courts and the legislature will have to determine how to apply the new definition to a wide variety of laws, including property rights and criminal laws.

Amendment 49: If you do not feel strongly one way or the other, vote no.

Amendment 50: Who really cares about gambling? And the extra money goes to community colleges. But, ultimately, the residents of the gaming towns should decide, not the casinos supporting this amendment. I don’t care that much how you vote because I don’t understand the complexities of this amendment.

Amendment 51: I’m voting yes, but I’m not going to tell you how to vote because I don't feel that strongly about it.

Amendment 52: I’m voting no because I do not feel strongly one way or the other. Note, that: “The state legislature determines how severance tax revenue is spent. Under existing statutes, it is evenly divided between local governments and state programs. State statute distributes the local government portion to communities impacted by the mineral extraction industry — either directly based on mining activity in the area or through competitive loans or grants. The state portion is spent on loans for local water projects like dams, pipelines, and canals; programs regulating mining activity; and, in recent years, programs like low-income energy assistance and wildlife conservation,” according to the Colorado Blue Book available at … http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/bluebook/2008EnglishVersionforInternet.pdf

Amendment 53: Yes. Makes execs liable.

Amendment 54: No. It covers labor organizations that represent public employees in a collective bargaining agreement.

Amendment 55: Yes. According to the Blue Book, “Amendment 55 allows employees who do a good job to work without fear of losing their employment with no notice and for no reason.”

Amendment 56: Yes.

Amendment 57: Yes.

Amendment 58: YES. Let’s increase the amount of state severance taxes paid by oil and natural gas companies by eliminating an existing state tax credit and then allocate the increased severance tax revenue to college scholarships for state residents, wildlife habitat, renewable energy projects, transportation projects in energy-impacted areas and water treatment grants.

Amendment 59: Yes. Funds public education.

Referendum L (Qualifications for Serving in the State Legislature): No.

Referendum M (Obsolete Constitutional Provision Relating to Land Value Increases): No.

Referendum N (Obsolete Constitutional Provisions Relating to Alcohol Beverages): No.

Referendum O (Citizen-Initiated State Laws): No.