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Each week, we bring you a collection of the most viewed stories from The Daily Brew, condensed. If you like this newsletter, consider signing up for The Daily Brew to wake up and learn something new each day.
Here are the top stories from the week of August 19 - August 23. |
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BALLOTPEDIA |
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Voters in three states to decide on marijuana legalization initiatives in November
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Voters in Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota will decide on ballot initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana in November.
Ballotpedia found that the outcome of recreational marijuana measures has correlated with a state’s recent presidential voting history (for the previous three elections) since 2010:
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There have been nine marijuana legalization ballot measures in states with Democratic presidential voting histories, with eight (89%) approved and one (11%) defeated.
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There have been 10 measures in states with Republican presidential voting histories, with four (40%) approved and six (60%) defeated.
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There have been four measures in states with mixed presidential voting histories, with three (75%) approved and one (25%) defeated.
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Lawmakers enacted 33 bills this year related to direct democracy
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Each year, Ballotpedia releases a report on state legislation affecting the three aspects of direct democracy in the U.S.—the ballot initiative, referendum, and recall election. In this year’s report, we found that the number of proposed bills was higher than the annual average from 2018 to 2023 of 302. We also found that the number of enacted bills was close to the annual average of 34.
Monday’s Daily Brew looked closer at these trends. Read more at the link below. |
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Abortion, minimum wage, and sports betting on the ballot this fall in Missouri
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On Aug. 13, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) certified three ballot measures on abortion, minimum wage, and sports betting.
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The Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative would amend the Missouri Constitution to provide a state constitutional “right to make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.” The proposed amendment would allow the Legislature to regulate abortion after fetal viability.
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The Missouri Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Initiative would increase the minimum wage to $13.75 per hour in 2025 and $15 per hour in 2026. It would also require employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
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The Missouri Sports Betting Initiative would allow for each of the state’s professional sports teams and casinos to offer sports betting. It would levy a 10% tax on adjusted gross sports betting revenue, which would go to a fund to help compulsive gamblers, while the rest would go to public schools and higher education programs.
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Thirty states passed 88 bills decreasing agency power in 2024
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Ballotpedia’s Administrative State 2024 Legislation Report found that lawmakers in 44 states considered 583 bills and resolutions that would decrease or increase agency authority and influence or otherwise affect the administrative state.
Thirty-eight states approved 129 of those bills or resolutions (including three through veto overrides and three through ballot measures lawmakers put on their state’s ballot).
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Thirty states passed 88 bills that decreased agency power.
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Eight states passed nine bills that increased agency power.
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Thirty-two bills and resolutions did not clearly increase or decrease agency power.
The full report contains analysis of administrative state-related legislation and draws on findings from Ballotpedia's Administrative State Legislation Tracker. |
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