Soda Tax, Cannabis, and GMO’s, Oh My: A Small Recap Of Midterm Election Ballot Measures

It has been two days since the 2014 mid-term elections were conducted and the results have kept my eyes keen on the computer screen. The activist within me is thrilled when I find out citizens in the town of Denton, Texas, the very birthplace of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and home to 270 oil wells voted to ban fracking in their hometown! Congratulations to Denton residents, hopefully their tap water still runs clear and hopefully their ban spans the country so that big oil will stop fracking with us (have you seen the documentary called Gasland? Holy crap…)

The state of Missouri also warmed my heart when they successfully passed an amendment conveying that farming in Missouri is a constitutional right. This is huge! With the crazy, crazy amount of genetically modified foods in America and the crazy amount of money funneled into fighting measures like this one, this amendment ensures that farmers and ranchers in Missouri are protected from out-of-state interests. The practice of agriculture is Missouri’s number one industry, and they intend to keep it that way. Farm on, Missouri!

Given successful measures like that in Missouri, it has been a head scratcher trying to unravel why the state of Colorado voted against the labeling of genetically modified foods. A whopping 69% of Coloradans voted no on Proposition 105. It has been stated that the food industry spent $11 million in Colorado campaigning against this measure. Further research conveys that the measure may have ultimately hurt Colorado’s economy, and that can be reason why so many voted against it. The measure would have mandated that a lot of Colorado’s food exports be labeled “genetically engineered,” even though they are not. For example, food from animals would be labeled, despite the fact that the animals themselves are not genetically modified. However, if the animals were fed or injected with genetically modified foods or drugs, the labeling would have to showcase this. I personally would not reach for a label that blatantly states something was genetically engineered, so it does make sense that the state feared decreases in food exports with the new law, thus voting against it! I am hopeful the movement to label GMO’s finds its way back to Colorado with a more tactful measure.

All this talk about good and bad food has me feeling like I have the onset of the munchies. Speaking of which cannabis, anyone? On Tuesday, the state of Oregon joined 23 other states that accept the use of medical marijuana. The state of Alaska celebrated the passing of a measure that makes recreational use legal. Unfortunately, the state of Florida did not pass the medicinal use of marijuana, even though it received 57% of the vote. The measure apparently needed 60% to pass. The good news for Florida, however, is that 75% of people voted for a conservation effort that would dedicated billions of dollars over the next 20 years to start restoration projects in the Everglades. YAY! Overall, 19 states approved measures that dedicated more than $13 billion for land conservation. DOUBLE YAY!

A LOT happened on Tuesday night, you guys. A few other things to touch on are that the city of Berkeley, California passed the nation’s FIRST tax on soda! Starting in January, there will be as much as a 10% increase in price for sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and a few other sugary liquids! This is a major win for public health and hopefully other places will catch on. In light of health, the state of Arizona overwhelmingly passed a measure that will allow terminally ill patients to receive ‘experimental drugs’ that have yet to be approved by the Food & Drug Administration.

This recap has only been the tip of the iceberg! It is important to know what is trending or receiving attention in other parts of the nation, because often times the outcome can be applied close to home anywhere! Did I forget to mention that West Virginia elected an 18-year-old to its House of Representatives? She ran the campaign from her freshman dorm room. Be the change, people!!

President v. Republican Congress: How the 2014 Midterms will Affect Obama’s Relationship with Congress

By Matt Bacon

“Get the Veto Pen Ready,” Senator Bernie Sanders (I – VT) titled a post on his Facebook account the morning after the Republican Party took back the Senate by storm in an impressive showing over the Democrats. For many who may be wondering how the new Washington dynamic will affect the relationship between President Obama and Congress, Sanders’ five words may provide an ominous warning.

Throughout his term, Congress has given Obama enough trouble as it is. For the last four years, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has opposed Obama at every turn, ignoring key issues facing our country in order to concentrate on things like voting over 50 times to repeal Obamacare. The Republicans in the House have been the primary source of Washington gridlock throughout Obama’s term, and that is only about to get worse.

Yet, leaders from both sides of the aisle have expressed hope that they can work together on some issues. “We ought to start with the view that maybe there are some things we can agree on to make progress for the country,” said Senator Mitch McConnell (R – KY), who won his own race on this year’s election night against Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan-Grimes. The Senator’s comments came in his first press conference since his victory. McConnell is in line to become the next Senate Majority Leader.

Obama responded in his own first public statements since election night that he is “eager to work with the new Congress to make the next two years as productive as possible,” citing corporate tax reform as an area where the two parties may reach an agreement. The President also made it clear, however, that he does not see his party’s tough day at the polls as a sign he needs to shift his policy. In fact, four states that elected Republicans as governor also voted to raise the minimum wage – a policy change Obama has been championing for awhile.

Obama clearly believes that instances like that show that while he may be unpopular, the general economic agenda of his party is not. He has also made it clear that while he is more than willing to work with the new dominant party in both Congressional houses, he will not make sacrifices or comprises with the Republicans at the expense of policies he believes will truly benefit the American people.

The next two years are going to pose an immense challenge to President Obama. He must find a way to make an even more volatile Congress pass legislation that will help our damaged, though slightly improving, economy. He must find a way to work with Republican leaders in Congress without sacrificing leadership, authority, and the values that he truly believes will help Americans. These years will be crucial to cementing his primary legacy as the man who helped pull America out of recession.

“I’m going to squeeze every last bit of opportunity to make the world a better place over these last two years,” Obama said in his press conference today. While cooperating with the “Party of No” may seem like an ideal means to his well-intentioned ends, the President may end up having to take the advice of Senator Sanders more than he would like to. While it always looks better when a President cooperates with Congress, Obama may need to resort to vetoes and executive orders to protect the American people from the somewhat selfish policies of the Republican party, and to advance our well-being.