Big-Bucks Ballot Battles

Though most of the attention-and money-in Tuesday's election is focused on the presidential contest and congressional races, big dollars are also pouring into ballot initiatives, with well-financed groups battling over the direction of state and local government.

More than half the money raised so far this year is being used in initiative battles in the Golden State.

Total money raised exceeds $200 million, most of it from the app firms in what will likely be the most expensive ballot campaign in state history.

Direct-democracy initiatives have become a battleground for tax increases in many states, especially where state constitutions make it hard to raise taxes.

To raise taxes on high-income households in Illinois requires changing the state's constitution, which prohibits a progressive state income tax.

Pritzker himself, part of a wealthy hotel and real estate family, has contributed $56 million to the effort to pass the ballot initiative, which he hopes will raise $3.75 billion in new taxes to bolster the perennially deficit-ridden state budget.

It has failed in several efforts to unionize the state's dialysis clinics and has consequently waged a series of ballot fights with the industry to harass it and drain it of resources.

https://www.city-journal.org/rapid-rise-in-ballot-spending