Ballot includes multitude of propositions

By Amanda Hunt

Arizona Daily Wildcat

The Arizona Daily Wildcat's guide to the propositions on today's ballot:

ù Proposition 100: Creates an office for a Lieutenant Governor

This proposition will in effect create a "vice" governor. This means a team would run for governor, and the lieutenant governor would take over the governor's office if he or she was to die or for some reason be unable to serve his or her duties. Currently the secretary of state fulfills this role.

ù Proposition 101: Exchange of State Trust Land

This would allow the state to exchange state trust land for public or private land of equal or greater value. This would eliminate the bidding process presently used to obtain these lands.

ù Proposition 102: Eliminates property tax for livestock owners

This would provide a personal property tax exemption for Arizonans owning livestock, poultry, aquatic animals and honeybees who are mainly involved in agricultural production. It would make Arizona

livestock holders more competitive with neighboring states who do not pay a livestock tax. It should lower the prices on their products because consumers presently pay more for products to make up for the difference in the tax the owners pay.

ù Proposition 103: Allows laws limiting certain rights to sue

This proposition is restrictive to lawsuits of personal injury, it will reduce the consideration of certain defenses by a jury and the amount of damages recoverable for death or injury.

Those in favor of the proposition say it will limit frivolous lawsuits Ä those brought to court by law offenders, for example Ä and also protect some organizations from being sued.

The opponents of this proposition say it will limit the rights of all people filing personal injury claims. They say it would keep victims of drunk driving accidents from receiving fair compensation for their injuries.

ù Proposition 200: Tobacco Tax

This would increase the tax on cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products. The funds would provide indigent health care for the medically needy and low income children, and also would support tobacco-related health education and research. Cigarettes would increase by 40 cents for every pack of 20. The tax is expected to raise nearly $90 million a year.

The proponents of this proposition say it will in effect reduce the "unhealthy" use of tobacco, especially with youngsters, and raise revenues necessary for health care services in the state. They say it will improve public health as similar laws have in other states.

The opponents argue that it is another opportunity for the state to increase taxes and that it forces one group to pay increased taxes for services that are not necessarily related to smoking.

ù Proposition 201: Ban on leghold traps on public lands

This will ban leghold traps, snares and poisons on public lands, without restricting hunting or fishing. Some provisions are made to allow rodent control and non-intrusion trapping for wildlife research.

Those in favor of the proposition say it will end unnecessary cruelty to animals, including pets, which are killed in such traps and normally die slowly and painfully. They say it clearly will not limit hunting or fishing.

Opponents say the proposition is one step closer to banning hunting and fishing. They argue that it will hurt trappers who rely on such methods for their livelihood and limit the only effective method of killing predators of livestock.

ù Proposition 300: Private Property Rights

This would allow the state to take over private property that does not follow regulartory standards set by the law. Would allow the state to gain control of a piece of private property not following state-wide environmental laws or standards, for example.

ù Proposition 301: Limits personal injury lawsuits

Similar to 103; would create a 12-year statute of limitations on some personal injury lawsuits. Would make it difficult for someone dealing with the after-effects of an injury dating back over 12 years to file a claim.

ù Proposition 302: Increases salaries of legislators

This proposition would increase legislators salaries from $15,000 to $19,750 a year. Legislators last received a pay raise in 1981.

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