Fairness Project

Last updated

The Fairness Project
Company typeEconomic and social campaigning welfare nonprofit organization, 501(c)(4) [1]
Founded2015 (2015), Washington, D.C.
Headquarters1342 Florida Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009, United States [2]
Area served
United States
Key people
  • Jonathan Schleifer (Executive Director)
  • Steve Trossman (President)
RevenueDecrease2.svg $6,363,274 (2018) [2]
Decrease2.svg ($3,488,002) (2017) [2]
Website thefairnessproject.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Fairness Project is a United States 501(c)(4) charitable organization created in October 2015. They promote general economic and social justice throughout the US by the use of ballot measures to circumvent deadlocks in law changes by the legislative and executive branches of government. They act as a national body by supporting state organizations and campaigns with targeted funding rather than by direct campaigning. They support the gathering of signatures to meet the variable requirements to trigger ballots in states and then aid the campaigns with early financial backing, strategic advice, and various campaign tools.

Contents

The Project seeks to raise state minimum wages, both through stepped annual increases and through elimination of the tip credit exemption. It has expanded Medicaid coverage and provided funding in the most expensive ballot campaigns ever fought. Usually alongside their other campaigns, the Fairness Project has supported improving paid sick leave coverage. Following Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization , the Project has also supported legalizing abortion via statewide ballot initiatives. The Project has supported 17 proposals in total, of which 16 have passed. Concerns have arisen about the lack of transparency of non-state organizations like the Fairness Project influencing local decisions.

History

The Fairness Project was created in Washington, D.C., on 22 October 2015 in the immediate run-up to the 2016 US presidential election. [3] It is funded by SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, a California health care workers union. [4] One of the major dispute points between Democratic and Republican candidates had been the issue of whether to raise the federal minimum wage, set at $7.25 for most employees as of 2019. [1] The federal minimum wage was set in 2009 and therefore real-term values have dropped significantly since then; with no confirmed prospect of a federal increase, states gradually became pressured to raise their own minimum wage values. [5] However, there were also deadlocks within state governments, both within state legislatures and between the legislature and governors (who could veto changes), [1] which has led to an increasing number of local initiatives exercising their rights (either via law or state constitutions) to place proposals for statewide ballots to institute legislative change via direct democracy. [6]

The founding executive director, Ryan Johnson, had volunteered to aid a number of these initiatives in 2015, before realising that there was nationwide interest in increased usage. This led to the creation of the Project as a coordinating nonprofit organization that could fundraise on a broader campaign structure, educate electorates of their ballot rights, and focus financial and volunteer support where it was most needed. The initial focus was to use SEIU United Healthcare Workers West's strategy of placing ballot initiatives on minimum wage in the 24 states that allow initiatives. [7]

Minimum wage increases

2016 ballots

The Fairness Project's focus for 2016 was a campaign to improve minimum wages. The campaign initially focused on three regions: Maine, California, and Washington, D.C., whose 2015 minimum wages were $7.50, $9.00, and $10.50 respectively. This provided a geographical mix and many difficulties – it was believed that while Washington and Maine would prove to be viable campaigns due to previous local votes for higher city minimum wages, California would pose a greater challenge due to a coalition of business interests that had killed the increase in the state legislature. [7]

The proposed motions in Washington and California were fairly similar: they sought to implement an immediate small increase with additional annual graduated increases, leading to $15 in both states by 2020 and 2021 respectively. The target of the campaign in Maine was $12 by 2020 – a comparable increase to the other proposals. [8]

All three proposals were initially successful by gathering the minimum number of required signatures: 365,880 for California, 23,200 for Washington, D.C.; and 60,000 in Maine. [9] [10] [11] In Washington and California, support for the proposals placed pressure on the city and state governments, which caused both states to implement legislation equivalent to that in the initiatives; as a result, the proposals were withdrawn. In Maine the vote proceeded and was approved by 55.5% of the voters. [12] After the vote there was a smaller campaign to reinstate the restaurant tip credit rule where tips could make up to 50% of staff wages, which would lower the effective minimum wage. As of 2018, restrictions on using tip credit were not being enforced. [12]

As the campaigns proved to be successful, the Project expanded their support to local initiatives in the states of Colorado, Washington, and Arizona. [13] The proposals for Colorado and Arizona also sought to raise the minimum wage to $12 by 2020, from $8.31 and $8.05 respectively. [14] Washington, which already had certain areas with higher base wages, such as Seattle, settled on targeting $15.00 from $9.47 by 2020. [14]

These additional propositions all remained on the ballot and were approved by their electorates. [14]

2018 ballots

In 2018, the Project made additional efforts to support local groups advocating minimum wage ballots. This support was focused in Missouri, where, together with the National Employment Law Center, a combined $537,500 was donated by advocacy groups; as well as Arkansas. [15] Financial assistance was also granted in Michigan, where the proposal only narrowly satisfied the requirements one day before the deadline. [16]

The Missouri ballot proposal aimed to increase the minimum wage from $8.60 to $12.00 by 2023 and eliminate the tip credit allowance. [17] The Michigan proposal sought to raise the minimum wage from $7.70 to $12.00 by 2022 for everyone except government workers. [18] Both ballots were voted on at the 6 November 2018 elections. [17] Missouri voted in favour with a 61% majority. [19] Michigan's legislature passed equivalent measures that removed the initiative from the ballot; these measures were repeatedly accused of enabling easier future amendments, as ballot-proposed law would require a three-quarters super-majority of each house to overrule. [20]

The Arkansas proposal was a pure minimum wage setup crafted by David Crouch. It aimed to increase immediately from $8.50 to $9.25, with stepped annual increments ultimately to $11.00. [21] The Fairness Project donated $100,000, functionally all on the signature-gathering stage. [22] The proposal passed with 68% of votes in favour and was implemented. [23]

Medicaid coverage extension

2017 ballots

ACA Medicaid expansion by state .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Not adopted Adopted Implemented Medicaid expansion map of US. Affordable Care Act.svg
ACA Medicaid expansion by state
  Not adopted
  Adopted
  Implemented

Starting in 2017, the Fairness Project redirected their primary focus to expanding Medicaid coverage, a joint state and federal program that covers some medical costs for those with few financial resources. [25] A Supreme Court ruling in 2012 declares that states do not have to utilize the provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as Obamacare) that expand Medicaid coverage, [25] which requires legislation (created by state legislatures or successful ballot motions) to increase the number of individuals receiving Medicaid assistance. [25] [3]

The first campaign in 2017 offered support by the Project was in Maine where there was strong support to expand Medicaid. The Fairness Project donated $375,000 to aid both the campaigns to have the proposal meet signature requirements and then campaign for its passing. [3] The proposal met the requirements to be added to the ballot and passed with 59% voting in favor. [3] However, Maine law gave the power to Governor Paul LePage to veto passed ballot proposals, [26] which he used seven times, stating that he "[would] go to jail before [he] put[s] the state in red ink". [26] He argued that a clear funding stream must be designated and in place before he would approve the law. The state house voted in favour of implementing the proposal, 85 to 58, but failed to gather the two-thirds majority needed to override. [26] Janet Mills, succeeding Lepage, signed an executive order implementing the change. [27]

2018 ballots

In 2018, the Project expanded their support to three similar proposals in Nebraska, Utah, and Idaho. As of July 2018, the Utah proposal had satisfied conditions to be voted on in the November elections. [28] The proposals of Nebraska and Idaho also submitted a number of signatures they believed to satisfy ballot requirements, and despite challenges on verification, the proposals were accepted. [3] [29]

The Project's support was important in gathering the signatures in Nebraska where $338,000 was spent to support the campaign (primarily by paid signature gatherers) – making up 93% of the pre-ballot spending. [30] Further spending in favour of a yes vote dramatically escalated, with the Project providing over 90% of the $919,000 total campaign expenditure in Nebraska by May. [29] Support in Idaho was comparatively lower in size and proportion, though still significant, with expenditure slightly over half a million dollars, making up 50% of proposal expenditure. Support also needed to be more focused due to a harder signature process in Idaho than most ballot states. [3]

The ballots were successful in all three states. Idaho approved the ballot with a 61% majority, but the campaigns were tighter in Nebraska and Utah with a bare 53% vote share. [31] The Fairness Project remained the primary donor in the three races, spending a total of over $6,000,000. Funding shares remained fairly even – with the most controversial remaining the near-90% share of the Nebraska campaign budget. [31] [32]

The Project failed for the first time at the 2018 Medicaid ballots. A Montana ballot (that was added late to the Project's campaigns) motioned to extend the previously temporary expanded Medicaid provision and failed to pass. [31] The ballot set a record for the most expensive campaign ever fought in the US, [4] [33] due to the funding provisions of the proposal, which placed additional taxes on tobacco products. As well as significant funding from the Project and other like-minded donors in favour, the tobacco industry spent $17,000,000 campaigning in opposition. [4] After a failed vote, a compromised version of the Medicaid expansion was passed in April by the Montana legislature to extend coverage until 2025. [34]

2020 ballots

A primary remaining Medicaid expansion target for the Project is Florida, with up to 445,000 citizens potentially to be covered. [35] Ballot measures can institute constitutional amendments but not new laws, and require over 760,000 signatures to take to ballot and a 60% vote to pass. [35] The Project is the primary financial backer for local group Florida Decides Healthcare ($380,000 as of June 2019), [36] enabling a first-stage target of 76,000 signatures to be met. This triggered a state supreme court review of the language used and state economists to review the expected costs of the measure. [36] Concerns on the possibility of various additional deadlines being met ultimately led to the state campaigning committee to postpone the plan to the 2022 ballot. [37]

Another targeted 2020 Medicaid ballot was in Oklahoma. The Project supported Oklahomans Decide Healthcare, with the 178,000 signatures necessary to be added to the ballot. [35] Oklahoma has the third highest uninsured rate of any US state, with 5% of the adult population being affected if the state enacts Medicaid expansion. [38] [35] A 2019 bipartisan legislative working group was formed to consider potential legislative versions of the expansion. [39] Campaigners met the signature requirement and submitted 313,000 signatures. The proposal is set to be voted on 30 June. [40]

The other Medicaid expansion ballot targeted for 2020 was in Missouri. The Fairness Project provided initial seed funding of roughly $30,000 when the campaign was announced at the end of August 2019. [41] The campaign required 160,199 signatures to be provided by 3 May, with the local campaign "Healthcare for Missouri" submitting 341,440 valid signatures. After an unsuccessful legal challenge, it was confirmed to be voted in on 4 August during Missouri's presidential primary elections. [42] A successful vote is expected to cover roughly 230,000 additional adults, with the ballot also prohibiting additional constraints or requirements other than those already in place on those covered by Medicaid. [42] As of June 2020, the Fairness Project had contributed $206,295. [43]

Abortion rights

2022 ballots

The Fairness Project contributed to the passage of Michigan's Reproductive Freedom amendment and Vermont's Reproductive Liberty amendment. Both amendments secured the right to an abortion in each state's constitution. [44] The project has supported similar initiatives in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota for the 2024 election cycle. [45]

Other issues

The principal other issue handled by the Fairness Project as of 2020 is paid sick leave. Although the topic was initially considered a goal for future election cycles, [1] several of the ballot proposals supported in 2016 also had paid sick leave aspects, specifically Washington state and Arizona. [14]

A Michigan ballot proposal was completed with over 380,000 signatures (well over the required 252,000) demanding varying levels of paid sick leave, which depended on company size. [46] The Fairness Project participated less in this signature drive, most likely due to an established local committee and significant local support willing to sign for the proposal. [47] An early sum of $100,000 was provided, with an additional $200,000 provided over the remainder of the campaign, and some minor in-kind aid, totalling 16% of campaign funds. [48] [49] The Michigan legislature decided to amend the proposal before passing it, which only required paid sick-leave coverage from companies with over 50 people and placed a lower maximum cap of 40 hours per year. [50]

Campaigns in Texas to implement paid leave have demonstrated increased complexity compared to other "normal" ballot proposals, as the Texan attorney general asserted that a state law preventing such a requirement overrides any city-level legislation that might occur, even if generated via ballot. [51] No statewide proposal has been offered; instead, various cities and areas have had local ballot proposals created, most notably in Dallas and San Antonio. [51] This has been driven by the decision of state capital Austin to legislate paid leave in February 2018. [51] The Freedom Project provided a loan of $383,813. [52]

A Colorado proposal to implement paid family and medical leave is being supported by the Fairness Project to be placed on the November 2020 ballot. The Fairness Project provided initial funding for the local campaign group's (Colorado Families First) website. The proposal demands up to 12 weeks of leave as a standard, employment protections, and a funding set-up split equally between employers and employees. Signature gathering was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Project's executive director stating: "The very act of going to your neighbor and asking them to sign violates all the rules of social distancing." [53] [54] The signature gathering continued as the Colorado governor agreed to remote signature gathering, with a requirement to submit 124,632 signatures by 3 August. [55]

In a significant variation, the Project gave a small amount of funding to help a Colorado ballot place firm restrictions on payday lending. The ballot sought to reduce the maximum interest rate to 36% from 200%,in an effort to reduce the rate of loan default from 25%. [56] Compared to most campaigns, the Project's support was minor, with under $7000 contributed out of over $2 million, mostly donated by the like-minded PAC Sixteen Thirty Fund. The proposal received clear support, with 77.25% of voters in favour. [57]

Opposition and controversies

Transparency

Since the Fairness Project operates through local organizations or hires in-state groups, and is not required to disclose donor lists, there have been complaints that the project is using dark money to influence elections, [58] which leads to a lack of transparency with voters unable to know exactly which groups might be trying to influence an election. This is particularly viewed as an issue with Medicaid expansion where groups with a vested financial interest might donate to the Fairness Project to shield their involvement from public awareness. [58]

There have also been concerns about the scale of influence that a national campaigning nonprofit can use in a state election, especially when the majority of a campaign's funding is provided by the Project, such as when it funded over 90% of the Nebraska campaign. [29] [30] This has raised concerns about whether state voters are making a local decision by themselves. In a related complaint, there have been accusations that it is unfair for groups to support propositions that will not affect them. [59]

Ballot usage

Primarily in reaction to the successful ballot proposals on increased minimum wage and Medicaid expansion, various states have either employed their rights to amend proposals in an aggressive fashion or, more frequently, moved to amend their laws to implement additional restrictions on ballot proposals. [26] [60] [61]

The Maine government has used their right to implement changes to any proposals that receive the minimum number of signatures. The Maine governor used their right to repeatedly veto the proposal in order to continually delay the effect of the passed proposal expanding Medicaid provision. [26]

Arizona lawmakers have proposed and brought in laws increasing technical requirements in signature gathering as have worked to repeal laws that prevent the repealing of passed ballot initiatives. [61]

Idaho amended their ballot requirements in 2013 to include a geographical aspect: 6% of voters' signatures must also have 6% of registered voters' signatures in at least 18 of the 35 state legislative districts. [3] The local organization Reclaim Idaho and the Fairness Project were able to use teams of local volunteers and also targeted paid signature gatherers to cover missing districts but the change has handicapped additional efforts. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California ballot proposition</span> Statewide referendum item in California

In California, a ballot proposition is a referendum or an initiative measure that is submitted to the electorate for a direct decision or direct vote. If passed, it can alter one or more of the articles of the Constitution of California, one or more of the 29 California Codes, or another law in the California Statutes by clarifying current or adding statute(s) or removing current statute(s).

In the politics of the United States, the process of initiatives and referendums allow citizens of many U.S. states to place legislation on the ballot for a referendum or popular vote, either enacting new legislation, or voting down existing legislation. Citizens, or an organization, might start a popular initiative to gather a predetermined number of signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot. The measure is placed on the ballot for the referendum, or actual vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Michigan</span>

Elections in Michigan are held to fill various local, state and federal seats. Special elections may be held to fill vacancies at other points in time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranked-choice voting in the United States</span> Electoral system used in some cities and states

Ranked-choice voting (RCV) can refer to one of several ranked voting methods used in some cities and states in the United States. The term is not strictly defined, but most often refers to instant-runoff voting (IRV) or single transferable vote (STV), the main difference being whether only one winner or multiple winners are elected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unified primary</span> Single-winner electoral system

A unified primary is an electoral system for narrowing the field of candidates for a single-winner election, similar to a nonpartisan blanket primary, but using approval voting for the first round, advancing the top-two candidates, allowing voters to confirm the majority-supported candidate in the general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Maine Question 4</span>

Maine Question 4, formally An Act to Raise the Minimum Wage, is a citizen-initiated referendum question that appeared on the Maine November 8, 2016 statewide ballot. It sought to increase Maine's minimum wage from $7.50 per hour to $12 an hour by 2020, as well as increasing the minimum wage for tipped employees gradually to the same level by 2024. It would also index increases after 2024 to inflation. As the Maine Legislature and Governor Paul LePage declined to enact the proposal as written, it appeared on the ballot along with elections for President of the United States, Maine's two U.S. House seats, the Legislature, other statewide ballot questions, and various local elections. Efforts to place a competing, more moderate proposal alongside the citizen-initiated bill were unsuccessful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medicaid coverage gap</span>

Under the public healthcare policy of the United States, some people have incomes too high to qualify in their state of residence for Medicaid, the public health insurance plan for those with limited resources, but too low to qualify for the premium tax credits that would subsidize the purchase of private health insurance. These people are described as falling into the Medicaid coverage gap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Maine referendums</span>

Five referendums were held in Maine, United States on November 8, 2016 alongside state and national elections. All are citizen-initiated proposals, which cover:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Ashcroft</span> American politician

John Robert "Jay" Ashcroft is an American attorney, engineer and politician serving as the 40th and current Secretary of State of Missouri since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he is the son of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Maine Question 2</span>

Maine Question 2, formally entitled "An Act To Enhance Access to Affordable Health Care", was a citizen-initiated ballot measure that appeared on the November 7, 2017 statewide ballot in the State of Maine. Maine Question 2 sought to expand Medicaid eligibility under the terms of the Affordable Care Act. The measure passed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Maine Question 1</span> Referendum on allowing casinos in York County

Maine Question 1, formally An Act To Allow Slot Machines or a Casino in York County, was a citizen-initiated referendum question that appeared on the November 7, 2017, statewide ballot in Maine. It sought to award a license for the construction and operation of a casino in York County, Maine by a qualified entity as spelled out in the proposed law, with tax revenue generated by the casino to go to specific programs. The wording of the proposed law effectively permitted only one company, Capital 7, to be awarded the license. The ballot measure was defeated, with 83% of voters opposing it.

Three ballot measures were certified for the November 6, 2018, general election in the state of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Initiative 77</span> 2018 Washington, D.C., ballot measure

Initiative 77 was a voter-approved ballot initiative in Washington, D.C., to phase out the special minimum wage for tipped employees as part of the national Fight for $15 campaign. In the June 2018 primary election, D.C. voters approved Initiative 77 by a margin of 56% to 44%; however, the D.C. Council repealed the initiative in October before it could enter into force. In 2022, a nearly identical Initiative 82 was approved for the November 8, 2022 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">November 2018 Maine Question 1</span>

Maine Question 1 is a citizen-initiated referendum that appeared on the November 6, 2018 statewide ballot. It sought to implement a tax on higher incomes in Maine to fund in-home health care services for elderly and disabled Mainers, as well as to create a government board to administer the funds. The vote coincided with general elections for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, the Maine Legislature, and other local elections. It qualified for the ballot due to supporters collecting signatures from registered Maine voters. It was defeated 62.86% to 37.14%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Idaho Proposition 2</span>

2018 Idaho Proposition 2 is an approved ballot initiative that was included on the 2018 General Election ballot on November 6, 2018. Idaho's Proposition 2 is an initiative which addressed the proposed Medicaid gap within the state. This Ballot Initiative was approved and qualified to be included for voting on July 17, 2018, through campaigning and petitioning for signatures to acquire the necessary support of the voting Idaho population to be included for state-wide voting through the 2018 General Election ballot. This initiative moved to expand Medicaid to persons who did not previously qualify. Proposition 2 would expand Medicaid coverage to persons under the age of 65 if their income is below 133% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) and are unable to gain medical insurance or coverage through other means.

Katie Fahey is an American activist who led the successful grassroots campaign to ban partisan gerrymandering in Michigan. As the founder of Voters Not Politicians, she organized thousands of volunteers who collected over 425,000 voter signatures for Proposal 2, a ballot initiative amending the state constitution to create an independent redistricting commission. The campaign garnered national attention and brought in millions of dollars in donations. Opponents sued to keep the measure off the ballot, but the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court allowed it, and on November 6, 2018, the state electorate approved Proposal 2 by 61%. Fahey now serves as Executive Director of The People, a national nonpartisan reform organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Michigan Proposal 2</span>

Michigan Proposal 18-2 was a ballot initiative approved by voters in Michigan as part of the 2018 United States elections. The proposal was created in preparation of the 2020 United States Census, to move control of redistricting from the state legislature to an independent commission. The commission consists of thirteen members selected randomly by the secretary of state: four affiliated with Democrats, four affiliated with Republicans, and five independents. Any Michigan voter can apply to be a commissioner, as long as they have not been, in the last six years, a politician or lobbyist. Proponents argued that Michigan's current districts are gerrymandered, giving an unfair advantage to the Republican Party. Opponents argued that the process would give the secretary of state too much power over redistricting, and that the people on the commission would be unlikely to understand principles of redistricting. The proposal was approved with 61.28% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Oklahoma State Question 802</span>

Oklahoma Question 802, the Oklahoma Medicaid Expansion Initiative, was a 2020 ballot measure on the June 30 ballot to expand Medicaid in the state of Oklahoma. It passed narrowly, over the objections of many prominent state elected officials, such as Oklahoma's governor Kevin Stitt. Medicaid expansion went into effect on July 1, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Missouri Amendment 2</span> Ballot initiative to expand Medicaid

2020 Missouri Amendment 2, also known as the Medicaid Expansion Initiative, was a ballot measure to amend the Constitution of Missouri to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The initiative was on the August 4, 2020, primary ballot and passed with 53.27% of the vote. Following previous successful Medicaid expansion initiatives in other states, Republican lawmakers in Nebraska and Utah added work requirements to their states' Medicaid expansions, which supporters aimed to prevent by proposing state constitutional amendments for future Medicaid expansion initiatives. Opponents sued to prevent the initiative from being voted on, but courts ruled in the measure's favor. The measure was supported most in urban areas and opposed in rural areas. After a delay due to a lack of funding from the Missouri General Assembly and resulting litigation, the initiative was implemented in October 2021, albeit slowly. Republican lawmakers attempted to roll back the program and add a work requirement through a state constitutional amendment, which failed after the United States Supreme Court effectively prevented the implementation of one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Initiative 82</span> 2022 Washington, D.C., ballot measure

Initiative 82 was a voter-approved ballot initiative in Washington, D.C., to phase out the special minimum wage for tipped employees as part of the national Fight for $15 campaign. In the November 2022 general election, D.C. voters approved Initiative 82 by a margin of 74% to 26%, though about 12% of all participating voters did not vote on the initiative. It was nearly identical to Initiative 77, a ballot measure in the 2018 primary election that was approved by D.C. voters but later overturned by the D.C. Council before it could enter into force.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Michael Walsh (22 October 2015). "The Fairness Project vies to raise the minimum wage at the ballot box". Yahoo News. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "IRS Return Year End 2018 by Fairness Project" (PDF). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bill Manny (30 April 2018). "60,000 signatures & counting: How did the upstart Medicaid expansion campaign do it?". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Phil Galewitz (11 November 2018). "Midterm election boosts Medicaid expansion, but challenges remain". The Connecticut Mirror. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  5. ↑ "Minimum Wage Tracker". Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  6. ↑ Vann Newkirk II (18 April 2018). "American Voters Are Turning to Direct Democracy". The Atlantic. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  7. 1 2 Lydia DePillis (21 October 2015). "The big 2016 minimum wage push just got a powerful new ally". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Jim Young (14 April 2016). "Minimum wage hikes in four states". Reuters. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Jessica Calefati (17 January 2015). "Voters beware: November 2016 ballot will likely be filled with propositions". Mercury News. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  10. ↑ Aaron Davis (22 July 2015). "In nation's capital, $15-hour minimum wage is headed toward 2016 ballot". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  11. ↑ Mario Moretto (16 April 2015). "Referendum launched for $12 Maine minimum wage by 2020". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  12. 1 2 Dennis Hoey (23 November 2016). "Maine group starts petition to exempt tipped workers from new minimum wage rule". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  13. ↑ Eillie Anzilotti (8 November 2017). "How The Fairness Project Helped Power Maine's Medicaid Expansion". Fast Company. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Jeanne Sahadi (9 November 2016). "4 states just voted to hike their minimum wage". CNN Money. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  15. ↑ Jason Rosenbaum (13 November 2017). "Bid to raise Missouri's minimum wage gets funding from politically active nonprofits". KCUR. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  16. ↑ Lindsay VanHulle (31 May 2018). "Michigan ballot efforts to raise minimum wage beat deadline". Bridge Magazine. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  17. 1 2 Erin Achenbach (2 May 2018). "Missouri workers submit signatures for minimum wage ballot". St.Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  18. ↑ Jonathan Oosting (21 May 2018). "Group submits 373k signatures for $12 Michigan minimum wage ballot initiative". The Detroit News. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  19. ↑ Nisa Muhammed (26 November 2018). "Arkansas and Missouri voters approve minimum wage hike". Final Call. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  20. ↑ Brenna Houck (6 September 2018). "Michigan Legislature Approves Initiatives for $12 Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave". Eater Detroit. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  21. ↑ Olivia Paschal (18 May 2019). "How to Change Policy Without Politicians". The Atlantic. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  22. ↑ Max Brantley (16 July 2018). "Campaign finance reports begin, first the minimum wage effort". ArkTimes. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  23. ↑ Heather Long (6 November 2018). "Arkansas and Missouri just approved big minimum wage increases, a liberal victory in red states". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  24. ↑ "Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions: Interactive Map". KFF. Map is updated as changes occur. Click on states for details.
  25. 1 2 3 Edquist, Mark & O'Connor (29 June 2012). "Analysis: U.S. Supreme Court Upholds the Affordable Care Act: Roberts Rules?". The National Law Review. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 James Hohmann (13 July 2018). "The Daily 202: GOP candidates caught in a bind on Medicaid". Washington Times. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  27. ↑ Joe Lawlor (3 January 2019). "Mills' 'Executive Order 1' makes 70,000 more Mainers eligible for health insurance". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  28. ↑ John Yellend (4 May 2018). "Utah health care initiative passes signature requirements, secures place on ballot". KUTV. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  29. 1 2 3 Don Walton (5 July 2018). "Medicaid expansion decision appears headed to voters". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  30. 1 2 Martha Stoddard (7 May 2018). "Petition drive to expand Medicaid in Nebraska forges ahead with national group's support". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  31. 1 2 3 Noam Levey (16 November 2018). "How Medicaid broke through in three deep-red states, and could do the same in more". LA Times. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  32. ↑ "Tyranny of Majority". Kearney Hub. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  33. ↑ Matt Volz (27 November 2018). "Record $26M spent on defeated tobacco tax measure in Montana". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  34. ↑ Amy Hanson (18 April 2019). "Montana Legislature passes Medicaid expansion bill". AP News. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Jesse Hellmann (30 July 2019). "Medicaid expansion backers push ballot measures to sidestep GOP". The Hill. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  36. 1 2 "Medicaid Ballot Drive Could Be Delayed". wjct. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  37. ↑ Dan Newman (12 August 2019). "Florida's Medicaid ballot proposal pushed back to 2022". Jacksonville Business Journal. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  38. ↑ Larry Luxner (1 August 2019). "Oklahoma Ranks Lowest on Programs Key to Rare Diseases on NORD's 2019 State Report Card". AADC News. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  39. ↑ Carmen Forman (30 July 2019). "Oklahoma Legislature forms Medicaid expansion, health care working group". Oklahoman. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  40. ↑ Matt Trotter (19 April 2020). "Oklahoma Medicaid Expansion Question Placed on June 30 Ballot". Public Radio Tulsa. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  41. ↑ Nathaniel Weixel (4 September 2019). "Advocates launch petition to place Medicaid expansion on 2020 ballot in Missouri". The Hill. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  42. 1 2 Kim Langston (10 June 2020). "Amendment 2 initiative to expand Medicaid is on Aug. 4 ballot". West Plains Daily Quill. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  43. ↑ Matthew Kelly (11 June 2020). "Pro-Missouri Medicaid expansion committee advised by Parson ally, aided by dark money". Kansas City. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  44. ↑ "Ballot Measure Campaigns". The Fairness Project. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  45. ↑ Edelman, Adam (December 23, 2022). "Abortion rights groups look to build on their victories with new ballot measures". NBC News. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  46. ↑ Alice Yin (30 May 2018). "Paid sick leave could appear on Nov ballot". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  47. ↑ Lindsay VanHulle (19 April 2018). "Optimism grows that Michigan will decide questions". Bridge MI. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  48. ↑ "Michigan Campaign Statement Summary - Fairness Project". Michigan Campaign Finance. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  49. ↑ "Total Contributions for Michigan 2018 ballot proposals" (PDF). Michigan.gov.
  50. ↑ David Eggert (5 December 2018). "Michigan Legislature OKs gutting wage, paid sick time laws". AP News. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  51. 1 2 3 M, Evans & C, Connelly (11 June 2018). "Group Says It Has Enough Signatures To Put Paid Sick Leave In Dallas On Ballot This Fall". KERA News. Retrieved 16 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  52. ↑ Mark Lisheron (11 October 2018). "National advocacy groups are backing the sick-leave effort in Texas". Texas Monitor. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  53. ↑ Conrad Swanson (1 May 2020). "Colorado lawmakers give up on paid family leave bill, will support ballot measure". Denver Post. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  54. ↑ Michael Powell; John Eligon (25 March 2020). "Virus Brings States to a Standstill: Sessions Halt, Budgets Crater, Plans Wait". New York Times. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  55. ↑ Bente Birkeland (27 May 2020). "Petitioners Can Gather Signatures Remotely For Ballot Measures, Denver District Court Rules". CPR News. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  56. ↑ Brian Eason (21 February 2018). "Payday loans have average interest rates of 129% in Colorado. A ballot measure proposes capping them". Denver Post. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  57. ↑ "Colorado Election results". 6 December 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  58. 1 2 "Out-of-state donors, unions are pouring money into Idaho to sway Medicaid vote". Idaho Statesman. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  59. ↑ "GOP lawmakers advance measures to rein in citizens' initiatives". Tucson. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  60. ↑ Timothy Williams (15 October 2018). "First Came a Flood of Ballot Measures From Voters. Then Politicians Pushed Back". NY Times. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  61. 1 2 "Arizona lawmaker's proposal may make it harder to enact voter-initiated legislation". Tucson. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
Listen to this article (20 minutes)
Sound-icon.svg
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 30 August 2019 (2019-08-30), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
(Audio help  · More spoken articles)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.