Alexandria, VA) – Although most eyes this 2009 election cycle are focused on the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, measures on the ballot in several states will also have a major role in the formulation of state and local taxes for many years to come. Recognizing this fact, the 362,000- member National Taxpayers Union (NTU) has assembled the General Election Ballot Guide 2009: The Taxpayer's Perspective. NTU's latest guide helps voters understand exactly what's on their ballots and how these proposals could affect them financially.
"When Americans are looking for a reliable rundown on ballot measures, they should look no further than NTU's Taxpayer's Perspective. The guide provides the information taxpayers need to understand the ramifications for their own pocketbooks of this November's slate of proposals," stated NTU's Vice President for Policy and Communications Pete Sepp.
The Taxpayer's Perspective covers more than 40 state and local initiative and referendum measures that citizens in 12 states will be able to decide on their ballots this November 3. Just a few of the many proposals The Guide discusses are:
- Maine's Question 4, which would establish a landmark "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" to restrain government expenditure growth and require voter approval for tax increases.
- Texas' Proposition 11, which would implement strong protections from abuse of the eminent domain power, one that local governments often employ in the pursuit of tax-financed development projects.
- Washington State's Initiative 1033, which would place a limit on future revenues raised by government and provide property tax relief with excess dollars.
Since the days of California's Proposition 13 in the 1970s, NTU and its members have earned a reputation of thoughtful participation in numerous ballot efforts, and in so doing have developed institutional expertise on the use of initiative and referendum powers to shape fiscal policy.
"The outcomes of these initiatives have the potential to set the tone of fiscal issues for the 2010 election and beyond. It is vitally important that taxpayers know exactly what is at stake less than a week from now," Sepp concluded.
NTU is a non-profit, non-partisan citizen group founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom. Note: General Election Ballot Guide 2009: The Taxpayer's Perspective is available online at www.ntu.org.
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