Archive for the 'Press Releases' Category
The Voters of Arizona Defeat Prop 105
November 5, 2008
Arizona’s Voters Reject Prop 105; the So-called ‘Majority Rules’ Amendment
Coalition of more than 125 Organizations Credits Revealing the Truth
and Hard Work as Reason for Defeating Misleading Proposition
The latest ballot count shows that voters have rejected Prop 105 marking a significant victory for Arizonans, all of whom will retain their most precious right – the right to vote. The tally shows Prop 105, the so-called “Majority Rules” amendment, losing by a 66 to 34 percent margin.
“I am proud to have been a part of a coalition that stood up for the voting rights of all Arizonans,” said John Wright, chair The Voters of Arizona-No on prop 105 campaign committee. “It is just plain wrong to count people who don’t vote, and the voters of Arizona agreed that Prop 105 was a misleading initiative that should not be included in the constitution.”
If Prop 105 had passed, more than 80 percent of those voting on a ballot initiative would have had to vote yes for it to pass, effectively killing the initiative process in Arizona, which is the closest thing we have to a direct democracy. If Prop 105 were already in place, a number of initiatives that overwhelmingly passed—including the statewide smoking ban, First Things First, Smarter Growth, almost every initiative since 1974—would not have passed under Prop 105.
A coalition of nearly 125 organizations across the state provided the foundation for a strong grassroots effort. The entire campaign included website development; earned media efforts; statewide direct mail and signage; and creative development, production, and placement of the TV commercial. The campaign took nothing to chance in what was arguably the most deceptive ballot initiative in the state’s history.
“From a campaign strategy perspective, their initiative was a classic ‘bait and switch’ strategy, using a ‘majority rules’ message as a cover,” said Joe Yuhas, partner with RIESTER, the campaigns consultant. “We didn’t allow a misleading message to stand in the way of educating voters about what Prop 105 was really about, counting people who don’t actually vote as automatic no votes. This landslide of Arizonans voting No on prop 105 proves that they want to keep and protect their constitutional right to the initiative process.”
Support for the Voters of Arizona-No on Prop 105 was wide spread including prominent elected officials including Mayors Bob Walkup of Tucson, Karen Fann of Chino Valley, and Mark Nexsem of Lake Havasu City. The business community also joined via support from 10 Chambers of Commerce statewide as well as the Associated General Contractors Arizona Chapter. The Voters of Arizona received a variety of new endorsements weekly, including public safety organizations such as the Professional Firefighters of Arizona, United Phoenix Firefighters and Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs; education advocacy groups including Arizona Education Association and Arizona School Boards Association; senior groups including the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans; and the medical community including Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association and the American Lung Association. By the end of the campaign, all major news outlets that weighed in on the issue were against Prop 105 including The Arizona Republic, East Valley Tribune, Tucson Citizen, Tucson Weekly, and The Yuma Sun.
Press Release: Poll puts ‘No on 105′ ahead
October 28, 2008
Recent poll by Cronkite/Eight puts ‘No on Prop 105’ ahead
51 percent of registered voters polled would vote no on Prop 105
Today, the most recent statewide telephone poll by Cronkite/Eight was released and showed that 51 percent of registered voters polled would vote no on Prop 105 on Election Day.
The Cronkite/Eight poll found that Proposition 105, which would require a majority of all registered voters, rather than just a majority of those actually voting, to vote yes to pass tax or spending measures, was trailing with only 27 percent in favor of the measure, 51 percent against it and 22 percent undecided.
“With less than a week until Election Day it is critical that the Arizona voters continue to educate those who are undecided about the pitfalls of Prop 105,” said John Wright, chair, The Voters of Arizona No on Prop 105 Committee. “This election could bring close to 80 percent turnout and this is not the time to take away one of our most precious rights – the right to vote.”
If passed Prop 105 would require that 80 percent of those actually voting on a ballot initiative would need to vote yes for it to pass. Prop 105 effectively kills the initiative process in Arizona by giving people who don’t vote a voice and that is just wrong. If Prop 105 was already in place, not a single initiative that was passed by voters since 1974 would have passed under Prop 105 wording.
The poll of 1,019 registered voters in Arizona was conducted by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and Eight/KAET during Oct. 23-26, and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
About The Voters of Arizona
The Voters of Arizona is a political campaign committee composed of individuals and organizations. Visit http://thevotersofaz.com for more information.
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In The News: Tucson Citizen Endorses No on 105
October 19, 2008
Our Endorsement: Don’t let issues be decided by nonvoters
Tucson Citizen
Oct. 18, 2008
Proposition 105 is a truly strange idea - one that would empower people who don’t bother to vote.
Prop. 105 goes by the misleading name of “Majority Rules - Let the People Decide.” That seems to make sense. But what the proposition actually would do is put voters and nonvoters on equal footing when it comes to deciding some future ballot measures.
The proposition would require that any ballot initiative that imposes additional taxes or spending be approved by a majority of registered voters. That’s not by a majority of those who vote, but a majority of all voters who are registered - regardless of whether they actually cast a ballot.
That would make it virtually impossible for such initiatives to ever be approved. Someone who goes to the polls and votes “yes” on a future ballot measure would be canceled out by someone who does not vote. All nonvoters would, in essence, be counted as “no” votes.
Consider this scenario: Were 75 percent of the registered voters to go to the polls, 2 of every 3 voters who cast ballots would have to support a measure for it to pass - an unfairly high standard.
Those who support this proposition claim the state budget has ballooned because of initiatives that cost money.
There is some truth to that. Voters approved improved health care for low-income residents - a move that brought two federal dollars to Arizona for every $1 in state money spent. The Legislature didn’t want to do that, but a majority of voters did. That’s how the system works. That’s majority rules.
There’s a basic principle at work here: Those who take the time to educate themselves and vote should have their say. The act of not voting should not be the same as voting “no.”
The Tucson Citizen urges a “no” vote on Proposition 105.
Press Release: AZCOPS Endorses No on prop 105
October 15, 2008
Prop 105 Endangers Public Safety in Arizona
The Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriff Rally
Against Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Today The Voters of Arizona announced a major endorsement by the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriff (AZCOPS) that has chosen to support the No on Prop 105 campaign. Representing a united front with other public safety organizations including the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona and the Arizona Police Association, AZCOPS is strongly against the so-called “majority rules” amendment and sees it as an attack on the act of voting and on the public safety of Arizona’s citizens.
If Prop 105 was already in place, not a single initiative that was passed by voters since 1974 would have passed under Prop 105 putting the safety of Arizona citizens at risk. The safety of Arizona citizens would have been jeopardized because police and fire fighting departments would not have been able to increase the number of personnel to keep up with demand.
AZCOPS is committed to make certain that Prop 105 is soundly defeated and is encouraging a NO vote on Prop 105 by Arizona voters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
About the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriff
AZCOPS is a statewide coalition for public safety professional that promotes the positive influence organized public safety professionals bring to our communities in Arizona, and all across America.
Press Release: Newspapers Endorse No on Prop 105
October 9, 2008
Four out of four newspapers statewide agree: Vote NO on Prop 105
Unanimously, newspapers statewide agree that come this Election Day voters should vote NO on Prop 105. The Arizona Republic, East Valley Tribune, Yuma Sun, and Tucson Weekly have all come to the conclusion that Prop 105 is a misleading measure that should not be passed by Arizona voters.
If passed, Prop 105 will amend our constitution and require a majority of all people registered to vote to vote YES in order to pass any future initiatives in Arizona, taking away a fundamental right of our citizens, the right to a fair election process.
If Prop 105 passes, 80 percent of those voting on a ballot initiative would need to vote yes for it to pass. Under these rules no initiative since 1974 that was passed by voters and enacted in to law would have passed—including the statewide smoking ban in 2006. Prop 105 effectively kills the initiative process in Arizona, which is the closest thing we have to a direct democracy.
Prop 105 is misleading and encourages voter apathy, and would make elections unfair. It would amend the Arizona Constitution to, in essence, automatically cast a no vote for those who don’t bother to vote, for those who have moved, or for those who are recently deceased.
About The Voters of Arizona
The Voters of Arizona is a political campaign committee composed of individuals and organizations. Visit www.thevotersofaz.com for more information.
No on Prop 105 has been endorsed by newspapers statewide including The Arizona Republic, East Valley Tribune, Yuma Sun, and Tucson Weekly.
Paid for by The Voters of Arizona – No On Prop 105. Major funding by Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, Arizona School Board Association, and the National Education Association (an out-of-state contributor with 34,227 members in Arizona).
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Press Release: 100 Organizations Endorse NO on Prop 105
October 8, 2008
More than one hundred organizations join forces to defeat Proposition 105
Today The Voters of Arizona announced that more than 100 organizations have endorsed The Voters of Arizona in the campaign to defeat Prop 105. This broad array of organizations joined in an unprecedented example of political unity because it is wrong to count people who don’t vote.The groups represent business, public safety, health, education, labor, outdoor recreation, conservation, women, children and family advocates, faith-based, voting rights, humane services, seniors, and other community organizations. For a complete list visit our Web site at TheVotersOfAZ.com.
These diverse groups have joined The Voters of Arizona campaign with one goal in mind: defeating the deceptive initiative titled “Majority Rules—Let the People Decide.”
Prop 105 will amend our constitution and require a majority of all registered voters in order to vote yes in order to pass all future initiatives in Arizona. Under these rules no initiative since 1974 that was passed by voters and enacted in to law would have passed—including the statewide smoking ban passed in 2006.
About The Voters of Arizona
The Voters of Arizona is a political campaign committee composed of individuals and organizations. Visit http://thevotersofaz.com for more information.
Paid for by The Voters of Arizona – No On Prop 105. Major funding by Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, Arizona School Board Association, and the National Education Association (an out-of-state contributor with 34,227 members in Arizona).
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In The News: Montini Column - Arizona Republic
October 7, 2008
A slick scheme to give non-voters a vote
Link to Column
Oct. 7, 2008 12:00 AM
Conning voters has always been a part of Arizona’s initiative process. But that could end in November.If the folks behind Proposition 105 have their way, this could be the last election in which special interests use the initiative process to fool voters. In order for that to happen, however, the special interests will have to fool you into voting for Proposition 105.
Step 1 in that process was creating a deceptive title for their proposition, which they did. They call it “Majority Rule - Let the People Decide Act.”
We’re Americans. Who among us is going to vote against majority rule? You. If you fall for this scam.
Proposition 105 says that if a ballot initiative “establishes, imposes or raises a tax, fee, or other revenue, or mandates a spending obligation . . . ” that it must be approved by a “majority of qualified electors registered to vote.”
Not a majority of people who actually vote, but a majority of those who are registered to vote. In other words, all of those men and women who don’t show up to the polls or don’t file early ballots will be counted as “no” votes.
“It seems strange to those of us who oppose this measure that anyone would want to reward apathy,” said Todd Sanders of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. “We think that elections are about participation. Failing to show up shouldn’t count as a yes or a no.”
There are some very smart people who don’t look at it that way, however. One of them is Clint Bolick of the Goldwater Institute.
“The initiative has become a way for people who can’t get something through the Legislature to get things passed,” he said. “Particularly well-heeled advocates. However, just as the Legislature can’t pass a spending bill without an absolute majority of its members - and a supermajority for raising taxes - this type of restraint on the initiative process is proper.”
It’s a decent argument up to the point that a voter’s lack of interest is determined to mean the same thing as saying no. After all, an equally valid argument could be made that indifference is the same thing as tacitly saying yes.
In politics (and news) the constituents we hear from most are those who disagree with us. The “yes” votes don’t bother.
I can understand the logic behind the initiative. Some of those who back it are affiliated with the liquor business, whose executives fear being hit with a tax in the same way that voters taxed tobacco a few years back.
“The baseline question is: Should it be tougher for initiatives that raise spending through fees and taxes to win approval than other initiatives?” Bolick said. “In light of this year’s budget mess, the answer is yes.”
Maybe, but in grade school we were taught that democracy is about participation, and that those who don’t take the time to vote should have no impact on elections.
Just the opposite will be true if voters approve Proposition 105. They will be handing over political power to people who didn’t bother to vote, most likely because they were duped by a deceptive but familiar slogan - “majority rules” - along with a few slick ads. Proving that in order to get your way in Arizona, you don’t have to fool all of the people all of the time. You only have to fool them once.
If the scheme works and Proposition 105 becomes law, there is both bad news and good news.
The bad news (according to those who have done the math) is that no future initiative tied to taxes or fees is likely to pass, ever.
The good news is that no future initiative tied to taxes or fees is likely to pass, ever.
Reach Montini at 602-444-8978 or ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.
Press Release: Associated General Contractors Endorse NO on Prop 105
October 6, 2008
PHOENIX (Oct. 6, 2008) Today The Voters of Arizona announced a major endorsement by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) choosing to support the No on Prop 105 campaign. The AGC agrees that it is wrong to count people who don’t vote.
Representing a united front with other trade organizations statewide, AGC is against the so-called “majority rules” amendment because they see it as an attack on the act of voting and as an attack on construction interests statewide.
“Associated General Contractors along with many other trade organizations across the state oppose Prop. 105 and have endorsed the No on Prop 105 campaign,” said David Martin, president of Associated General Contractors. “The issue at stake is protecting the act of voting. A true majority occurs when a person’s voice is heard because the choice was made to actually cast a vote. It is wrong to count people who don’t vote or can’t vote, such as the deceased, and that is why the AGC is encouraging Arizonans to vote no on prop 105.”
If Prop 105 passes, more than 80 percent of those voting on a ballot initiative would need to vote yes for it to pass. Prop 105 effectively kills the initiative process in Arizona, which is the closest thing we have to a direct democracy. If Prop 105 was already in place, a number of initiatives that overwhelmingly passed involving investment into the infrastructure in any community throughout the state would not have become law.
AGC is committed to make certain that Prop 105 is soundly defeated and is encouraging a NO vote on Prop 105 by Arizona voters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
About Associated General Contractors
The Arizona Chapter Associated General Contractors, chartered in 1934, is a not-for-profit association of general contractors, subcontractors, and other construction industry affiliated firms engaged in highway, heavy, industrial and municipal-utility construction.
About The Voters of Arizona
The Voters of Arizona is a political campaign committee composed of individuals and organizations. Visit http://thevotersofaz.com for more information.
Paid for by The Voters of Arizona – No On Prop 105. Major funding by Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, Arizona School Board Association, and the National Education Association (an out-of-state contributor with 34,227 members in Arizona).
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Press Release: Chambers Statewide Endorse No on Prop 105
October 1, 2008
Bottom Line for Arizona Businesses: Prop 105 a Drag on the Economy
No on Prop 105 endorsed by chambers of commerce statewide
PHOENIX – Oct. 1, 2008 – Businesses large and small thrive when they are part of a thriving and healthy democracy. Today The Voters of Arizona announced major endorsements by the East Valley Chambers of Commerce Alliance (EVCCA), Tucson Chamber of Commerce, and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, all choosing to support the No on Prop 105 campaign. These Chambers agree that it is wrong to count people who don’t vote.
Representing a united front with other chambers statewide, including Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, EVCCA, the Tucson Chamber and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber are all against the so-called “majority rules” amendment because they see it as an attack on the act of voting and as an attack on business interests in every community throughout the state.
If Prop 105 passes, more than 80 percent of those voting on a ballot initiative would need to vote yes for it to pass. Prop 105 effectively kills the initiative process in Arizona, which is the closest thing we have to a direct democracy. If Prop 105 was already in place, a number of initiatives that passed overwhelmingly would not have become law, including public safety, education, and health care measures, and specific to the business community, the Growing Smarter Initiative in 2000.
The EVCCA, the Tucson Chamber, the Tucson Hispanic Chamber and other chambers statewide are committed to make certain that Prop 105 is soundly defeated and is encouraging a NO vote on Prop 105 by Arizona voters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
EVCCA includes Ahwatukee Foothills, Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek and Tempe and provides coordination in the advancement of common business interests.
About The Voters of Arizona
The Voters of Arizona is a political campaign committee composed of individuals and organizations. Visit http://thevotersofaz.com for more information.
Paid for by the Voters of Arizona – No on Prop 105 Committee. Major funding by: Arizona School Boards Association; United Firefighters of Arizona; Arizona Education Association and the National Education Association (an out-of-state contributor with 34,277 members
in Arizona).# # #
Press Release: TV Campaign Launches Statewide
September 29, 2008
The Voters of Arizona – No on Prop 105 campaign hits airwaves statewide
TV commercial educating voters about the pitfalls of Prop 105 begins today
PHOENIX – Sept. 29, 2008 – Today The Voters of Arizona launched its statewide television campaign telling voters that it is wrong to count people who don’t vote.
The 30-second television commercial, produced locally, describes the pitfalls of Prop 105 stating that ‘Prop 105 would silence your voice forever. If proposition 105 passes, it automatically gives a no vote for registered voters who don’t vote on initiatives. That would cancel out any YES vote of yours.’
The visuals include a ballot going into a paper shredder, because in essence, people who don’t bother to vote cancel out any yes votes that are actually cast. The final shot is of a man placing an ‘I Didn’t Vote Today’ sticker on his shirt, emphasizing that anyone who doesn’t bother to get off of their couch to vote is automatically counted as a no vote.
The television campaign began today and will run statewide on cable and network television. To view the commercial visit the YouTube link or visit www.VotersOfAZ.com.
The Voters of Arizona are committed to make certain that Prop 105 is soundly defeated and are encouraging a NO vote on Prop 105 by Arizona voters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
About The Voters of Arizona
The Voters of Arizona is a political campaign committee composed of individuals and organizations. Visit http://thevotersofaz.com for more information.
Paid for by the Voters of Arizona – No on Prop 105 Committee. Major funding by: Arizona School Boards Association; United Firefighters of Arizona; Arizona Education Association and the National Education Association (an out-of-state contributor with 34,227 members in Arizona).
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