Supporters of Amendment 1 believed the measure would allow the legislature to enact whatever regulations and restrictions are permitted by the United States Supreme Court. As Sen. Mae Beavers said, "[The amendment] is meant to neutralize the 2000 Supreme Court decision." Some proponents interpreted the Planned Parenthood v. Sundquist ruling as stating that the Tennessee Constitution contained a stronger right to privacy and abortion than even the U.S. Constitution.[7]
In any event, Colorado defeated a Personhood amendment, by a wide margin, and Illinois passed a measure to require contraceptives to be covered in prescription drug health plans.
Supporters of ending Government Financial Asset Hoarding, aka CAFR reform, found reason to celebrate Texas' overwhelming passage of Proposition 1, reallocating oil and gas revenues in its Treasurer's "Rainy Day Fund" to transportation infrastructure instead.
In spite of a general mood to reduce spending when it came to legislators' salaries, by not granting raises wherever allowed to choose, or prohibiting income taxes altogether (Tennessee), several states approved bond or spending issues for a number of special causes.
Alaska passed a measure to "Prohibit mining projects if harmful to wild salmon in fisheries reserve" by nearly a 2-1 margin.
California passed a $7.12 billion bond for a range of improvements to California's water system, while saving money by reducing most nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, which would reduce populations in California's notoriously over-crowded prisons.
Florida passed a measure to provide funding of Land Acquisition.
Hawaii's voters authorized funding for early childhood education programs, agricultural enterprises, and dams and reservoirs.
Illinois voters authorized an income tax increase designed to raise a million dollars for more school revenue.
Louisiana voters authorized a Hospital Stabilization fund, and protected money for an artificial reef from being used for other purposes.
Perhaps Maine was the most ambitious state when it came to funding new initiatives, which included: $3 million in Business Loan Bonds, "$3 million in bonds to modernize and expand laboratory specializing in tissue repair and regeneration," "$7 million in bonds to facilitate growth of marine businesses," "$8 million in bonds to support agriculture, natural resources industries and human health monitoring," "$10 million in bonds to build a research center for genetic solutions to cancer and diseases of aging," and "$10 million in bonds to ensure clean water, protect drinking water and restore wetlands."
Rhode Island voters came close to Maine's ambitions with passage of measures to: issue a $35 million bond to fund artistic, historic and cultural centers, issue $53 million in bonds for environmental and recreational purposes, issue a bond of $125 million to construct a new College of Engineering building, and issue a $35 million bond to fund enhancements and renovations to mass transit hub infrastructure.
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