Many eyes on Denver (some of them bloodshot)
Denver is in the worldwide spotlight because of voters passing Initiative 100 on Tuesday, according to the Rocky Mountain News (and the Coyote Gulch referrer logs) [November 4, 2005, "Pot vote prompts worldwide attention"]. From the article, "Denver voters may have legalized adult marijuana possession Tuesday, but the political fuming, fighting and 'Mile High' fun-poking is just firing up. Passage of Initiative 100 by 53 percent of voters ostensibly changed city law to legalize private adult possession of 1 ounce or less of pot. But city law enforcement and political leaders say the vote was merely symbolic, because state law trumps local ordinances. Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey and police officials warn that pot possession will continue to be prosecuted under state law as a petty offense punishable by a maximum $100 fine. Now, Denver officials are feeling heat and heckling, both from residents outraged that leaders are ignoring the will of the voters and citizens worried the city is going to pot."
I'm sure that Councilman Charlie Brown agrees with this quote, attributed to Mo Udall, "The people have spoken, goddamn them." The councilman is very upset at the spotlight shining on the Mile High City. Hat tip to NewMexiKen.
Here's an article about the efforts of the Pro-Referendum C crowd from the Rocky Mountain News [November 4, 2005, "Ref C victory came down to sweat, little sleep"]. From the article, "'My goodness, I don't think I've ever worked harder on any campaign,' said Rep. Mark Larson, R-Cortez. 'I've got bags under my eyes from lack of sleep.' His four-county district in southwestern Colorado rewarded him by supporting Referendum C. 'My county, Montezuma, which votes Republican, voted for it,' Larson said Thursday. Rec C passed in Montezuma with 51 percent of the vote. That's the story all over Colorado."
Bill Johnson writes about his surprise that Referendum C passed [November 4, 2005, "Johnson: Referendum C victory is defeat for fear"]. From the opinion piece, "Had I been a true gambling sort, I would be without a home today because I certainly would have bet that Referendum C, the TABOR refund-suspending ballot measure, would lose. I would hardly have wagered my home, I must tell you, on an up or down vote on the referendum's merits. I cannot remember the last time a ballot issue or candidate was ever decided on that basis. No, I simply figured fear would, once again, win out, that we would again retreat into that ugly, dark part of ourselves, clinging to yet another nebulous, supposed threat that voting in favor of Referendum C would make real. I can still hear the radio ad I first noticed about a week ago, driving my son to school. It was the one with the woman who described herself as a mother and "former crime victim," who urged us in her lilting voice to vote against Ref C because it would benefit illegal aliens. My jaw dropped, my brain nearly fell out and I just about wrecked the truck. That's what passes as the ultimate fear factor these days: Illegal aliens! Heavens."
The Rocky Mountain News editorial staff declares, "The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights is not 'as good as dead,' as House minority leader Joe Stengel mistakenly told leaders of the national tax-limitation movement this week in the wake of Ref C's passage...Rather than point out that Ref C backers did precisely what TABOR envisioned in asking voters for permission to keep a portion of refunds, these critics are depicting any breach of the refund base as the equivalent of a TABOR repeal. It's idiotic, frankly, and we don't use that term often." [November 4, 2005, "An imaginary death for TABOR"].
The Denver Post editorial staff chimes in [November 4, 2005, "Reports of TABOR's death ..."].
State Democrats are promising that they won't blow all the cash the voters are letting them keep, according to the Rocky Mountain News [November 4, 2005, "Dems promise fiscal restraint despite allure of C's windfall"]. From the article, "The Democratic majority this winter will adhere to the spending areas spelled out in Tuesday's Referendum C, which authorized a $3.7 billion spending increase over the next five years, party leaders said Thursday. Republicans say they don't trust Democrats to restrict themselves to spending on K-12 education, higher education and health care. But they will, Democratic Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff said."
State legislative leaders say that the passage of Referendum C will not trigger a spending spree, according to the Denver Post [November 4, 2005, "Lawmakers caution that Ref. C no pot of gold"]. From the article, "Colorado's top lawmakers have little wiggle room in writing next year's state budget, even though voters this week agreed to let the state keep more taxpayer money over the next five years. The state barely has enough to prevent deep cuts in existing programs - not a pot of gold that will pay for new programs, said top legislative Democrats a day after reports surfaced of tension over the money."
Category: Denver November 2005 Election
6:08:22 AM 
|
|
