This week I have taken a look at some of the candidates appearing on the 2010 ballot and made some endorsements. Here was the agenda:

Monday: Montana House and Senate (Click HERE to read)

Tuesday: A few local races (Click HERE to read).

Wednesday: U.S. House, State Supreme Court, PSC District #1 (Click HERE to read)

Today, I take a look at the Ballot Issues.

On the back of my 2010 ballot there are four ballot issues. This election, they are pretty boring in my humble opinion.

They are:

1. Constitutional Convention Call No. 2 (They have to ask this every 20 years)

2. Constitutional Initiative 105 (No new taxes on the sale or transfer of real property)

3. Initiative No. 161 (Revises laws related to nonresident big game and deer hunting licenses)

4. Initiative No. 164 (Reduces the interest, fees, and charges of payday loans, title lenders, etc.)

Thankfully, the state publishes a Voter Information Pamphlet (VIP) that explains these ballot issues in more detail. You can read it online HERE (PDF).

If you are looking for something to help you sleep, the VIP may just be the cure.

In making my endorsements of these ballot issues and besides reading the VIP from front to back, I also look at who writes the “proponent” and “opponent” arguments for each ballot issue in the pamphlet. Sometimes you can tell the angle of a ballot issue just by seeing who writes the opponent and proponent language. Some of the folks you may even know and like or dislike.

So let’s take a look at them. Continue reading →