Are there any local issues that you are anxious for tonight?

We voted on a big school issue today. Tax increase for building 2 new schools and redoing the middle school. The state would pay 55% and there was a levy for the remainder..... I don't look for it to pass with this economy I am really hoping it does. We really need them!

By Rayelle on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 09:18 pm:

There was a bill here to legalize slots. I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's been an issue for a long time, I remember them trying to get it to pass when I was in high school. I'm more curious than anxious I would say. There is some gambling legal like bingo and there are some slots in clubs.

By Melanie on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 09:27 pm:

The big state issue for us was Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage. I am hoping this measure fails. Our kids have several friends who are in a two-mom household. Those kids deserve to have their families recognized as equal and deserving of the legal rights our family has.

Locally, the school board is the main one I am watching. We have a superintendent who is not respected and is not doing right by our teachers, and it is the school board who has kept her there. We have three open seats, and I am hoping to see a change for the better there.

Good luck on the school issues. We have a middle school that is falling apart, and there have been two bonds that have failed over the past couple of years to build a new one. I hope you have much better luck!!

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 09:52 pm:

Floridians are voting on a ban on recognizing any union other than a legal marriage between a man and a woman. It's being touted as a gay marriage ban, but it will also affect ALL domestic partnerships, including common law marriage between a man and a woman. It has to pass by a 60% majority, and is currently reporting at 62% in favor, so I'm upset and disappointed with my state. My county is actually reporting 50/50 on it at the moment, so we will see as the night progresses, and all of the early and absentee ballots are counted.

All of the props here are worded in such a roundabout way you can barely figure out if you should vote yes or no. There were a few here that I really don't know what they were asking.

By Debbie on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 09:57 pm:

We have a big bond issue to build a new jail/police station. The station will cost 65 million dollars, and they want to raise property taxes to pay for 1/2 of it. With the economy, I think it is a huge expense, and can be done a lot cheaper. There was land donated, but they don't want to use that. It is going to be a lot bigger then it was suppose to be. They are spending A LOT of money so the cells have natural light(I'm suprised they don't want to put in flat screens in each cell) There are just a lot of issues, so I hope it doesn't pass. I think they should scale it down, and build it with the money they have.

I am really worried with the economy the way it is, along with other things, that our regular taxes are going to go up. I don't care what either candidate says....I think they will.

By Colette on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 07:44 am:

We had three questions. Eliminate the income tax, which didn't pass, decriminalize marijuana if you are caught with an ounce or less,which did pass and banning dog racing, which also passed.

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 07:55 am:

We had 7 propositions on the ballot - DH and I agreed on 5 of them. Oh well................. One of the ones I disagreed with him about was whether to allow the previous owners of *blighted properties* (mostly from Katrina, where they just abandoned them) to have the first chance to re-purchase them. That's a hot button with me. If you wanted to keep your darn property in the first place,then do what the rest of the population did and at least take steps to keep the yard free of 4' tall weeds and remove the safety hazards. DON'T wait for it to be done at *our* expense, get repo'd, and THEN decide *yeah, I think I'd like to have it back now*. GRRRRRRRRRRRR

By Kaye on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 10:33 am:

Colette, so banning dog racing? Is this all forms, like greyhound races? Or something else all together? Is gambling legal there? We have dog and horse tracks and a lottery here, but no casinos. Just interesting how each state is so different.

And MJ, you can have it, but only in small amounts?

By Colette on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 04:12 pm:

Kaye, they banned greyhound racing, which as far as I know is the only kind of dog racing. As for MJ, it is decriminalizing "small amounts" - which means, the cops take it away and you get a $100 fine and have to take anti drug classes, but you don't end up with a criminal record. You still cannot sell it or grow it in any amount. The small amount is an ounce (which is a big "small amount" for personal use) or less.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 04:14 pm:

We didn't have any extra issues, this time. We've had school referendums and one police station referendum in the past, though.

By Kaye on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - 04:17 pm:

Thanks, I was just curious.

It is really interesting to me how states really are so different.

By Tonya on Thursday, November 6, 2008 - 11:40 am:

Michigan legalized pot for medical purposes and approved stem cell use for research.

By Vicki on Thursday, November 6, 2008 - 11:52 am:

Our school levy failed. I honestly thought it would, but I did vote for it!

By Kaye on Thursday, November 6, 2008 - 03:09 pm:

We didn't have any issues here. Our big political news is there was a huge sweep of judges. For the past 10 years we have been 100% republican, only 4 kept office. Our sherriff has been in office for 14 years and he got beat. There has been a lot of corruption in the city of houston and the election showed people are tired of it.

By Rayelle on Thursday, November 6, 2008 - 06:46 pm:

The slots passes here. The tax money generated from it is supposed to go towards education.