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Life, Death, and Chicken Cages

Election night's biggest direct democracy battles.

Arizona

Marriage Proposition 102 amends the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. A state law already prohibits same-sex marriage. In 2006, the state was the first to reject such a ban. Before the California Supreme Court decision allowing gay marriage, the measure was polling just shy of the 50 percent it needs to pass (40% opposed it, 11% were undecided).

Immigration Would permanently revoke business licenses for companies that knowingly hire undocumented workers. Two similar initiative campaigns targeting enforcement of immigration law could not get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Arkansas

Adoption Focus on the Family is backing a measure that bars individuals from adopting or providing foster care if they are cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of marriage. A 2007 University of Arkansas poll found 53 percent of prospective voters in favor, 42 percent opposed.

Gambling Measure creates a lottery to fund college scholarships. Only seven other states have no lottery, though two of these (Nevada and Mississippi) have casinos.

California

Abortion Proposition 4, known as "Sarah's Law," would require physicians to notify a minor's parent or guardian, then wait 48 hours before performing an abortion. A July Field Poll found 48 percent of Californians favor the amendment and 39 percent oppose it. Gov. Schwarzenegger has supported it, but similar attempts in 2005 and 2006 failed.

Marriage Proposition 8 would amend the state constitution to read, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." In May, the state supreme court invalidated a state law with similar wording. The title fight in the 2008 marriage wars has seen millions poured into both sides of ...

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From Issue:
October 2008, Vol. 52, No. 10
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Comments

Fight for the disadvantaged

October 09, 2008  2:41am

A health plan should target the most needy person and prevent them go bankruptcy because of their long time payment for medication. McCain's terrible un-intelligent plan can get a bunch of young healthy people covered without the need to see a Doctor. What kind of plan it is!! Who to help??? I'm a working middle aged person with great health plan coverage from a great company; I very seldom go see a doctor before turning 40. Under McCain's plan, once I have unexpected chronic illness start to develop, I'll be doomed of not being in the "preferred group to cover” by Insurance company’s bi-annual assessment, and I'll have to pay a well increased premium they ask in order to get a coverage, or have a hard time to get the right insurance plan. If I get cancer, then I probably cannot find an insurance company wants to cover me. Under McCain's plan, more and more older, sicker, people who change jobs, or need individual plan will have a hard time on getting enough coverage.

Robin P

October 08, 2008  10:16pm

Surely, since Jesus loves the little children, education should be a major issue for Christian voters? Among other things... I'm so tired of seeing the same short list of hot-button topics trotted out as if life is just that two-dimensional. It isn't. Please cover the whole story if you're going to cover any of it.

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