Election 2008 Results: Health Care Issues on the Ballot
photo credit: SkrewtapeNovember 2008, election month, has already proven to be an incredibly roller coaster of highs and lows. For some, a dream of hope was realized, and for others, disappointment was felt — the change they weren’t ready for arrived on their doorstep.
Presidential election aside, there was a slew of controversial and intriguing health-related measures on ballots across the nation. Voters in states from California to New York flocked to the polls to cast their vote on how certain health matters would be handled in their state. Read on to learn what was on tab in different health categories, what the outcome was and what that could mean for you and your family.
Fetus Rights, Stem Cell and Ending It All
California Abortion Prohibition
In California, voters were faced with voting on Prop 4, which was a proposition that would have prohibited abortions for unemancipated minors until a period of 48 hours had passed and the minor’s parents were notified. The Abortion Waiting Period and Parental Notification Initiative, or affectionately known as Sarah’s Law by supports, did not pass — only grabbing 47.7% of the vote. Interestingly enough, this is the third time in the past 3 years that California has tried to pass such a law, and the third time that it has failed.
The Colorado Equal Rights Amendment
In Colorado, voters had to raise their voices (or pens, or electronic wands) for or against the Colorado Equal Rights Amendment, or CERA. The amendment was basically determining exactly when a person becomes a person, as defined by law. If this law had passed (it was defeated with 27% of the vote) a person would have been defined as “…any human being from the moment of fertilization.” While this may not outwardly appear like an abortion issue, the two go hand-in-hand, and if this law had passed it would have massive implications on abortion laws to follow in the Rocky Mountain state.
South Dakota’s Failed Abortion Initiative
South Dakota (no, not where Fargo was filmed) voted on Initiated Measure 11, and had it passed, it would have banned all abortions in the state except for cases occurring in rape, incest or to protest the woman’s health. Doctors who performed these outlawed abortions would have received 10 years in jail and a $20,000 fine. Harsh? Yes, felony charges tend to be, but the measure was defeated with 55.3% of voters saying no.
Michigan’s CureMichigan Stem Cell Initiative
photo credit: koolkaoMichigan, sometimes coming off as a more conservative state, passed a very controversial proposition on stem cell research. Prop 2, also known as The Stem Cell Initiative (or CureMichigan) will now allow the donation of embryos produced in fertility clinics that would otherwise be discarded and would allow researchers to create embryonic stem cell cultures to study disease. It would also allow government funding of stem-cell research. Human cloning will continue to be illegal. The proposal passed with a 53% vote (one of mine among them!). It is hoped that stem cell research will one day lead to cures for Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, and juvenile diabetes.
Assisted Suicide in Washington
Oregon’s neighbor to the north, Washington, voted on a measure called Washington Initiative 1000 (inventive huh?). On the record, this initiative was referred to as an “aid to dying,” but supporters casually referred to it as “death with dignity” while the opposition called it “assisted suicide.” No matter what you want to call it, 1-1000 passed with 59% voting aye. From here on out, mentally competent, terminally ill adults have the legal choice to request and self-administer a lethal overdose of medication. A similar proposition was on the ballot back in 1991, but the reason that this one passed and that one did not probably has to do with the fact that this new one is much more restrictive, prohibiting euthanasia and lethal injections.
Health Insurance and Coverage
Arizona’s Freedom to Choose Act
Arizona’s Medical Choice for Arizona (or Freedom to Choose Act) is actually the first to be talked about here that is still in limbo. Votes are being counted for this amendment as we speak, and what’s on tab is the prevention of “many of the abuses associated with socialized medicine and restricting its form to either residual welfare or a voucher system.” In layman’s terms, residents of the state would be ensured that there would be no interference on their rights to choosing a private health care system or any other choices around rights to pay for health care at all.
Missouri and the Quality Homecare Initiative
Missouri was faced with deciding on Prop B, which ended up being approved. What this means for Missouri is that a Quality Homecare Council will now be created to ensure the availability of home care services to the elderly under the Medicaid program by recruiting, training, and stabilizing the home care workforce. This new program will come with a $510,560 price tag, but it is obviously important enough for voters to turn out their pockets for. Increasing the homecare workforce will help ensure that the elderly in Missouri always have the type of support and services they need in later life.
Montana’s Healthy Kids Act
Montana voted on the Healthy Montana Kids Plan Act (does that sound oddly worded to anyone else?), a statute that would establish a health insurance plan for all uninsured children starting by December 2009. For families who cannot afford health insurance, the passing of this bill (which was approved) will mean that even if parents can’t find the care they need, they know that their children will be taken care of and will be given the chance to grow up healthier.
Washington’s Long Term Care Initiative
Washington voted on an interesting citizen-initiated ballot measure, the Long-Term Care Initiative, and it was heartily approved. This measure will now require people who work with and care for the elderly to get more training and be certified in anything applicable. This means everything from extensive background checks, a written examination, and continuing education.
Hopefully you were able to make it to the polls this election year to use your voice and vote to make the changes you were seeking. It’s encouraging to see states passing (or denying) measures that seem to have residents’ best healthy interests at heart, and this trend should be one that continues for years to come.
Tags: 2008 election, ballot initiatives, health care, politics, stem cell, voting
