5 proposed constitutional amendments and one referendum are on the 2010 Georgia ballot. Here’s a summary of each, and my opinion on each.
Bottom line: Definitely no on 1. Definitely yes on 2 and 4, probably yes on everything else (3, 5, and the referendum).
Avoid the lines and vote early thru Friday!
Details after the jump.
Amendment 1: NO. Would allow courts to enforce supposedly "competitive" contracts. Deceptive--would really allow harsher contracts NOT to compete. Current state law limits your employer's ability to force you to sign a non-compete contract--that is, a contract that says if you quit or get fired, you can't pursue your occupation in Georgia for X years. Amendment 1 would give employers even more power to prevent you from making a living in the same field as your old employer. More info: http://www.11alive.com/...
Yet more info (borderline teabagger, but not completely insane): http://politicalvine.com/... Vote no.
Amendment 2: YES. Trauma deaths in Georgia are 20% higher than national average. This amendment would add a $10 car tag fee to fund better trauma care. Appropriate because car wrecks are #1 source of trauma. More info: http://www.yes2savelives.com/... Vote yes. It's a no-brainer.
Amendment 3: YES(?). Would allow the state to enter multi-year contracts for long-term transportation projects. Under current law, the DOT can't award construction contracts for more money than it has in its budget for ONE year. The ability to award multi-year contracts would let the DOT have more projects going at any one time, and it might save money by allowing the DOT to lock in prices when they're low. More info: http://www.emailcontact.com/... The amendment summary says that if this amendment passes, the DOT could still cancel big multi-year projects if the legislature doesn't allocate the money. This amendment seems like a good idea, although with the DOT you always have to suspect that somebody is looking for a way to funnel money to cronies. But I'll probably vote yes anyway.
Amendment 4: YES. Allow the state to contract with private companies to upgrade the energy efficiency or water efficiency of state buildings, and to pay the companies only out of the actual energy or water cost savings. Saves money, saves water, reduces climate change, reduces pollution. http://www.yestoamendment4.com/... Would help with the "water wars," which it appears Georgia is going to lose in federal court: http://www.economist.com/... And did I mention it saves money? Which is why it's backed by everybody across the political spectrum, with solid support from the Sierra Club to prominent Republicans. http://www.northgapolitics.com/... And it saves money. Another no-brainer--vote yes.
Amendment 5: YES(?). So arcane that it's hard to figure out what's really going on. Basically, 5 would allow two oddball counties to come more in line with the rest of the state. I'll probably vote yes on it.
Referendum: YES(?). Would exempt unsold business inventory from ad valorem taxation. You have a business; you fork out money for inventory; if you can't sell it by tax time, under current law you have to pay taxes on it. Current law seems to punish a business right when times are toughest. I'll probably vote yes.
More info on all:
http://www.ajc.com/...
http://www.examiner.com/...
http://ballotpedia.org/...
http://repjacobs.com/...
http://politicalvine.com/... (this is the borderline teabagger who's not completely crazy)
Full text of all 5 amendments and the referendum (PDF): http://qual.sos.ga.gov/...