Questions, Questions, Questions: Well, here's our answers from The Lebanon Voice

Editor's note: The following referendum questions are on the ballot in Maine. Below are the questions and The Lebanon Voice positions. In the case of ranked-choice voting, a short explanation of the question is also included due to some confusion over its intent and potential impact.

Question 1 - Legalizing recreational marijuana
"Do you want to allow the possession and use of marijuana under state law by persons who are at least 21 years of age, and allow the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?"
Our view:

The Lebanon Voice agrees that the legalization of recreational marijuana will likely happen sooner rather than later, but this is a poorly written bill that doesn't address law enforcement tools and the proper protection of the state's medical marijuana community. Moreover, it leaves too many issues open ended and subject to manipulation such as potential overregulation. It's a bill begging Big Marijuana and big special interest money into our state, and judging by what Big Tobacco did, and still does, we don't need more of the same.
TLV: Vote No on 1.

Question 2 - Education surcharge
"Do you want to add a 3 percent tax on individual Maine taxable income above $200,000 to create a state fund that would provide direct support for student learning in kindergarten through 12th grade public education?"
Our view:

Picking on one particular segment of our society to pay for something just isn't the democratic way. This is an unfair tax that will shrink rather than stimulate education funding. Beside funding isn't the biggest problem with education. We already spend about 70 percent of our property tax on education. Throwing more money isn't the answer. This is just wrong.
TLV: Vote No on 2.

Question 3 - Background checks
"Do you want to require background checks prior to the sale or transfer of firearms between individuals not licensed as firearms dealers, with failure to do so punishable by law, and with some exceptions for family members, hunting, self-defense, lawful competitions, and shooting range activity?"
Our view:

We don't think it's asking too much to ask folks to get a background check before buying a gun online or at a gun show. In fact, we think it's insane not to. And this bill has thought of every possible exclusionary transfer of a firearm between sportsmen, family members and target shooting aficianados.
And just because some bad guys will still get guns is not a reason to try to keep that from happening.
This just makes sense.
TLV: Vote Yes on 3.

Question 4 - Minimum wage
"Do you want to raise the minimum hourly wage of $7.50 to $9 in 2017, with annual $1 increases up to $12 in 2020, and annual cost-of-living increases thereafter; and do you want to raise the direct wage for service workers who receive tips from half the minimum wage to $5 in 2017, with annual $1 increases until it reaches the adjusted minimum wage?"
Our view:

To put it bluntly, the union types want this to pass while the businesses that are the economic engine of this economy say it will hurt them and force them to lay off folks or stop hiring teenagers looking for that first job toward building a strong resume.
Fact: Salary legislation does not make people richer. It makes everyone poorer as a result of higher prices passed on to consumers, especially the eldery who are living on a fixed income and fighting to stay in their homes already. When the private sector is doing well, wages increase. Look at wages in the private sector. They haven't gone up in nearly 20 years. If this passes it will only hurt small businesses and those who actually lose their jobs due to higher wages they can't afford.
TLV: Vote no on 4.

Question 5 - Ranked-choice voting
"Do you want to allow voters to rank their choices of candidates in elections for U.S. Senate, Congress, Governor, State Senate, and State Representative, and to have ballots counted at the state level in multiple rounds in which last-place candidates are eliminated until a candidate wins by majority?"
Explanation: Supporters say a yes vote gives voters more say in elections and will cause candidates to moderate their positions so campaigns are more civil, so if they don't win in a first round, they still have a chance in the second because they didn't offend anyone.
Opponents like Gov. Paul LePage argue it's against the state's constitution, which calls for winners of an election to be chosen by a plurality of the vote.

Our view:

This is basically political correctness for elections. Everyone plays nicey nicey and couches their policies in doubletalk to bamboozle folks in not only the voting but in subsequent recounts. It's costly and will make politicians even more dishonest, if you can believe that! Downright dumb.
TLV: Vote No on 5.

Question 6 - State infrastructure
"Do you favor a $100,000,000 bond issue for construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities, equipment and property acquisition related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, to be used to match an estimated $137,000,000 in federal and other funds?"
Our view:

This is a great idea, but not while folks can't afford their food and their health insurance which are going up double digits. We say, "We need real income growth in the private sector before we start investing in bicycle and pedestrian trails. Besides, there's plenty of trails already as far as we can see.
TLV: Vote No on 6.