A couple of clarifications on Cal.'s Prop 30:

1. We voted to raise taxes on ALL Californians. The income tax is only raised for high earners, but Prop 30 also contains a .25-cent sales tax.

2. This wasn't just raising money for education. 25% of the Prop 30 funds go to the general fund--and a good thing, too, because we keep cutting services like Medicaid that keep people alive.

Well I "Googled-up" the Prop 30 Temporary sales tax
("Increases sales and use tax by ¼ cent for four years.";
the income tax also appears to be baited with a time limitation hook -
"Increases personal income tax on annual earnings over $250,000 for seven years." http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2012/general/pdf/30-title-summ-analysis.pdf)

I'm wondering whether it's realistic to expect or even hope that when the time limits have been reached that the taxes will be allowed to expire?
It's the mirror image of the "solution" offered by time limited tax decreases (a la the Bush Tax Breaks)

Brian,

For better or for worse, the assisted-suicide amendment in Massachusetts failed -- the Yes side conceded this morning. It's not still undecided.

RE: pot laws and the feds, what happen to states rights? i hope the GOP will stand up for states rights on this issue, not just for oppression

After 2010, a number of states underwent reapportionment under Republican governors and Republican state legislatures. The success of the state wide ballot initiatives you are discussing proves, as do the Democratic successes in the state-wide senate elections, that gerrymandering, like voter suppression, was a necessary--but not sufficient--part of the Republican formula for victory. Since the ground beneath so many House election literally changed, the "status quo" results can only be interpreted an unexpected win for the Democrats.

How about the marijuana legalization!? That is incredible progress!
Looking forward to my next visit to Washington state :)
This may not be as surprising as you may think, as they are right across from British Columbia, where it is legal, and see first hand that over there, it's not a big deal, and brings in nice tax revenue while diminishing crime.