On Tuesday, 11 states voted on ballot measures that could impact higher education. The following table (based on one from The Chronicle) summarizes how those measures fared.
YES–the measure passed NO—the measure failed
| CALIFORNIA | ||
| YES | Prop 30 | Would temporarily increase sales and income taxes in order to raise approx. $6-billion in revenue and stave off $963-million worth of cuts to the public colleges. |
| MAINE | ||
| NO | Question 2 | Would allow a $11.3-million bond issue to fund capital for a diagnostic facility at the University of Maine. |
| MARYLAND | ||
| YES | Question 4 | Would let children of illegal immigrants pay in-state tuition rates provided they meet certain conditions. |
| MICHIGAN | ||
| NO | Proposal 2 | Would let graduate students form unions and bargain collectively. |
| MISSOURI | ||
| NO | Prop B | Would raise cigarette taxes and use the revenue to create a Health and Education Trust Fund. About 30 percent of revenue would go to higher education. |
| MONTANA | ||
| YES | LR-121 | Would require proof of citizenship in order for a person to receive certain state services, which includes attending Montana’s public colleges. |
| NEW JERSEY | ||
| YES | Question 1 | Would let the state issue a $750-million bond for buildings and upgrades at public and private colleges. |
| NEW MEXICO | ||
| YES | Question C | Would authorize a $120-million sale for certain higher education repairs and improvements. |
| OKLAHOMA | ||
| YES | Question 759 | Would ban affirmative action programs in the state, including their use in public colleges’ admission policies. |
| RHODE ISLAND | ||
| YES | Question 759 | Would give Rhode Island College up to $50-million for its health and nursing programs’ facilities. |
| WASHINGTON | ||
| NO | SJR 8223 | Would allow the UW and WSU to invest publicly-generated revenue (i.e. parking fees and indirect-cost reimbursement for grants) in corporate stock. |
| YES | Initiative 1185 | Would renew the requirement of a two-thirds legislative vote in order to create new taxes or raise existing ones–effectively making it more difficult for the state to generate new revenue for programs including higher education. |