ProsperUS Coalition Celebrates Progressive Economic Victories

Written By Q Chaghtai

Claire Guzdar, spokesperson for the ProsperUS coalition, reacted to Tuesday’s midterms with the following statement:

“This week’s election results prove what we have been saying all along: people-centered investments are popular, needed, and economically sound. From raising the minimum wage to investments in public schools, child care, climate, and housing, voters across the country cast their ballots for policies and candidates that will improve their lives and economic well-being. 

“People have made their voices heard, loud and clear – now it’s time for our leaders to get back to the urgent work of building a stronger, more equitable economy that works for all of us.” 

2022 Progressive Economic Ballot Initiative Wins

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND MINIMUM WAGE

  • Initiative: Amendment 1: Right to Collective Bargaining Measure [This ballot measure has been widely reported as a win] 
    State: Illinois
    What it does: Creates a state constitutional right to collective bargaining
    Current Margin: 58.46% (for) vs. 41.54% (against). (This margin may change with more votes)
    News: NBC Chicago

  • Initiative: Minimum Wage Increase Initiative 
    State: Nebraska 
    What it does: Incrementally increase the state's minimum wage from $9 to $15 by 2026 and annually adjust the minimum wage thereafter by the cost of living.
    Margin of Victory: 58.19% (for) vs. 41.81% (against)
    News: ABC, NPM, Nebraska Examiner

  • Initiative: Increase Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Measure
    City: Washington, DC 
    What it does: Increases the tipped minimum wage from $5.35 in 2022 to match the minimum wage of non-tipped employees in 2027
    Margin of Victory: 74.08% (for) vs. 25.92% (against)
    News: Washington Post, Washington Examiner

  • Initiative: Question 2: Increase Minimum Wage [Still too close to call]
    State: Nevada
    What it does: Increases the state's minimum wage to $12 per hour by July 1, 2024, removes provisions that set different minimum wage rates for employees based on whether the employer provides health benefits, and stops existing annual adjustments to minimum wage determined by inflation.
    Current Margin: 54.22% (for) vs. 45.78% (against). (This margin may change with more votes)
    News: KNPR, Bloomberg

HEALTH CARE

  • Initiative: Medicaid Expansion Initiative 
    State: South Dakota 
    What it does: Expands Medicaid to adults aged between 18 and 65 with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty level. This would expand coverage to 42,000 working-class residents.?
    Margin of Victory: 56.21% (for) vs. 43.79% (against) 
    News: Politico, Forbes, SDPB

HOUSING 

  • Initiative: Proposition A, Housing for Certain Income Levels Bond Measure
    City: Austin, Texas
    What it does: Supports authorizing the city to issue $350 million in bonds to fund housing projects for households at certain income levels and levying a tax to repay the bonds.
    Margin of Victory: 71.32% (for) vs. 28.68% (against)
    News: Austin’s NPR

  • Initiative: Question 2, Housing Bond Measure [This ballot measure has been widely reported as a win.
    City: Kansas City, Missouri 
    What it does: Issues $50 million in general obligation bonds for the renovation and construction of affordable housing for very low to moderate-income households.
    Margin of Victory: 58.71% (for) vs. 41.29% (against)
    News: NPR 

  • Initiative: Affordable Housing Bond 
    County: Palm Beach, County 
    What it does: Dedicates $200 million to build affordable housing.
    Margin of Victory: 55% (for); unofficial results as reported in the news
    News: Palm Beach Post

  • Initiative: Rent Stabilization Ordinance, Limit Rent Increases for Certain Residential Units Measure
    County: Orange County, Florida
    What it does: Supports limiting rent increases for certain residential rental units for one year and creates a process for landlords to request an exception to the limitation.
    Margin of Victory: 59% (for) vs. 41% (against)
    News: ClickOrlando

  • Initiative: Proposition 123: Dedicate State Income Tax Revenue to Fund Housing Projects Initiative [Still too close to call]
    State: Colorado
    What it does: Dedicates a portion of revenues (one tenth of one percent) from existing income tax revenues and allocates funds to housing projects, including "affordable housing financing programs that will reduce rents, purchase land for affordable housing development, build assets for renters, support affordable homeownership, serve persons experiencing homelessness, and support local planning capacity"
    Current Margin: 50.65% (for) vs. 49.35% (against); (This margin may change with more votes)
    News: 9News, Colorado Sun, Denver Post


TAX POLICY

CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION

PUBLIC EDUCATION

  • Initiative: Proposition 28: Art and Music K-12 Education Funding Initiative
    State: California
    What it does: Require an annual source of funding for K-12 public schools for arts and music education equal to, at minimum, 1% of the total state and local revenues that local education agencies receive under Proposition 98; Distribute a portion of the additional funding based on a local education agency's share of economically disadvantaged students, and require schools with 500 or more students to use 80% of the funding for employing teachers and 20% to training and materials.
    Margin of Victory: 61.58% (for) vs. 38.42% (against)
    News: Desert Sun, LA Times, KTLA

  • Initiative: Proposition FF: Healthy School Meals for All Program
    State: Colorado
    What it does: Reduces the allowable state income tax deduction amounts; creates and funds the Healthy School Meals for All Program
    Margin of Victory: 55.15% (for) vs. 44.85% (against)
    News: Denver Post

  • Initiative: New Mexico Bond Question 3, Public Education Bond Issue
    State: New Mexico
    What it does: Issues $215,986,000 million in bonds for public higher education institutions, special public schools, and tribal schools
    Margin of Victory: 61.04% (for) vs. 38.96% (against)
    News: El Defensor Chieftain

  • Initiative: Question 2: Public School Buildings Bond Measure
    State: Rhode Island
    What it does: Issues $250 million in bonds for construction and renovation of state public school buildings
    Margin of Victory: 73.21% (for) vs. 26.79% (against)
    News: WPRI, Brown Herald

OTHER PUBLIC INVESTMENT

CLIMATE

  • Initiative: Proposal 1, Environmental Bond Measure
    State: New York 
    What it does: Issues $4.20 billion in general obligation bonds for projects related to the environment, natural resources, water infrastructure, and climate change mitigation
    Margin of Victory: 68.01% (for) vs. 31.99% (against)
    News: The City, Lower Hudson

PREDATORY LENDING

Q Chaghtai
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