Election Round-Up

I ended up not posting last night, because Obama’s win became too thrilling and non-environmental propositions became too heartbreaking.

But here is the final tally of the ballot measures across the country:

California:
Proposition 1A: Approved, 52.3%
Proposition 2: Approved, 63.3%
Proposition 7: Defeated, 65%
Proposition 10: Defeated, 59.9%

Colorado:
Amendment 58: Defeated, 58% (so many 58′s… too funny)

Georgia:
Amendment 1: Approved, 68%

Maine:
Question 3: too close to call

Minnesota:
HF 2285: Approved, 56%

Missouri:
Proposition C: Approved, 66%

Ohio:
Issue 2: Approved, 69%

Rhode Island:
Question 1: Approved, 76%
Question 2: Approved, 68%

updating often, refresh

Missouri, Prop C: YES: 66.1%, NO: 33.9%…. 5% reporting

Georgia, Amendment 1: YES: 66.3%, NO: 33.7%…. 5% reporting

Ohio, Issue 2: YES: 72.5%, NO: 27.5%….. ?? reporting

*** go HERE for full election results

First results coming in: Georgia

Georgia, Amendment 1: YES 64%, NO 36%….. 3% of reporting precincts

Georgia Amendment 1

To be clear… since I live in California, it has been difficult getting information of items on other states ballots. But, I am trying to research as much as I can about the issues that effect the environment. If you live in a state that I am writing about, and have more information, please feel free to send it along.

Amendment 1: Forest Preservation Amendment or HR 1276

This is a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment that would encourage the preservation, conservation, and protection of the state’s forests through the special assessment and taxation of certain forest lands and assistance grants to local government.

Arguments FOR:
– The amendment will ensure that as Georgia continues to grow and develop, it will continue to protect the forests in the state.
– This amendment will affect very little taxable land value, and is a worthwhile investment in helping keep our forest lands.

Arguments AGAINST:
– Rural school districts would lose valuable tax base, and although the measure authorizes the General Assembly to appropriate grants to local governments to offset the loss of tax revenue, there is fear that school districts will suffer.
– While the wording indicates that this is a program to protect the state’s forests, this is not a state land purchase set aside for the benefit of all Georgians. It is in reality a bill to provide property tax relief for paper companies and others that have forest land holdings in excess of 2,000 acres.

My recommendation: YES

I have to say it is very hard to find information about this Amendment. What I can tell you is that it seems everyone is in support of this passing, so who I am I to judge. The biggest issue I find is that in order to be considered for preservation it has to be over 200 acres. But the flip side is that maybe the people who have 200+ acres are the same people that can afford an addition tax.

There are no websites for either position.