Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Remember all those wild-eyed radical ballot measures that Tea-Publicans tried to push through the 50th Arizona legislature over the past two years? Even with a super-majority in both chambers of the Arizona legislature, it appears that only four legislatively-referred constitutional amendments will be on the ballot this November.
Prop. 114 - The Arizona Judicial Selection Amendment, SCR 1001 (2011)
The measure would amend Article VI, sections 4, 12, 20, 36, 37, 39, 41, and 42 of the Arizona Constituion.
The measure would modify the Appellate and Trial Court Commissions. If it passes, specifically the measure would increase the terms of judges from six to eight years and the retirement age from 75 to 70. In addition to these changes, the State Bar of Arizona will be allowed to appoint only one of five attorneys to a judicial nominating commission. Currently, the governor appoints five attorneys that are vetted by the bar association.
This arises out of GOP displeasure with the Appellate Court Commission selection of the five members of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission in 2011.
Prop. 115 - The Arizona Crime Victims Protection Act Amendment, SCR 1020 (2011)
The measure would amend Aticle II, section 31 and Article XVII, section 6 of the Arizona Constitution.
The measure would prohibit crime victims from being subject to a claim for damages for causing harm to a person if that person is killed or injured when engaging in, or fleeing after, a felony crime.
Prop. 116 - The Arizona Property Tax Break For Business Equipment Amendment, SCR 1012 (2012)
This measure would amend Article IX, section 2 of the Arizona Constitution.
This measure would amend the Arizona Constitution to reset the personal property tax exemption for new equipment and machinery purchases to an amount equal to the earnings of 50 Arizona workers, approximately $2.4 million. The current constitutional exemption is $50,000 indexed to inflation since 1996 or $68,079 in Tax Year 2012. SCR 1012 passed with unanimous support in the legislature.
Legislative budget analysts estimate the bigger exemption for property acquired starting in 2013 would cost the state about $8.2 million in lost general fund revenue, while there would be what the analysts call a “minimal impact” on local governments.
Prop. 117 - The Declaration of State Sovereignty Amendment, HCR 2004 (2012)
This measure would amend the Arizona Constitution by adding a new Article II.I relating to state sovereignty.
This measure would declare state sovereignty over lands, air, water, minerals, wildlife and the state's other natural resources based on the argument of "equal footing."
As the Arizona Republic editorialized, "HCR 2004 is an ideological tantrum that's gone too far." State Senate should kill embarrassing bill. "HCR 2004 would explicitly violate the act that allowed our state to enter the union. That law requires the state, as Arizona agreed in its Constitution, to disclaim all right and title to federal lands here." It is facially unconstitutional and is intended to pick a legal fight with the U.S. government to make work for GOP attorneys.
Initiatives to the ballot are due by Juy 5, 2012.
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