Blog — Vote No on Issue 9 |
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Friday, July 3, 2009
Cincinnati I.O.U.'s?Under the misguided veil of "more democracy," the naysayers who are pushing the Charter Amendment that would prevent the City from investing in any passenger rail without a public vote are working to turn Cincinnati into a California-style government by referendum.The results are pretty clear - a budget gap of $27 billion, tax increases, crumbling schools and a state that has had to result in issuing I.O.U.'s because it can't pay its own bills. This form of "direct democracy" has conversely spawned a cottage industry - professional canvassers who are paid by special interests to secure enough signatures to get measures on ballot. With no restrictions on funding for these issues, special interests are able to dominate the California electoral process. I will let CFP Treasurer Don Mooney explain more: • One thing particularly dangerous about a “referendum,” as opposed to a race for Mayor or City Council, is the amount and source of cash that can be spent to persuade the public to vote “yes” or “no.” Candidates for Council or Mayor have strict contribution limits, and can only accept money from individual contributors or duly registered political action committees. But if Cincinnatians vote on whether to joint the C-C-C high speed connection, corporate power brokers can write unlimited checks. Watch what happens this November when proponents and opponents of casino gambling start buying millions of dollars of television time. The “message” voters hear is not always what motivates these big donors. Casino “opponents” will warn about the potential harm of gambling to our community’s social fabric, in ads paid for by casino operators from across the Indiana border who just don’t want more competition. The same motives will drive any passenger rail referendum in Cincinnati. Would oil companies or car manufacturers write big checks to prevent Cincinnatians leave their cars at home and take a train to work, Columbus or Chicago? Would Delta want to keep people flying rather than taking a train to Chicago or Cleveland? You betcha. • While campaign consultants and TV stations will profit from passenger rail election wars, the taxpayers will pay. If Council needs to move quickly to buy small chunks of land, or spend matching local dollars to make high speed rail happen in Cincinnati, a special election will be required every time new land or city spending is required. According to our Board of Elections, each special election in Cincinnati could cost around $475,000, which might be more than some of the right-of-way purchases will cost the City. Is this the kind of government you want in Cincinnati? Thanks to @noktulo for the NYT article.
posted by Cincinnatians For Progress at
10:21 AM
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