Tactical retreat in pursuit of strategic victory

Plus banning child marriage and some fine print on streamlining housing permits

The news that majority Democrats will likely allow floor votes¹ on three of a slate of six conservative ballot initiatives sets the stage for a more focused campaign this fall on the fate of the remaining three measures. Those initiatives would end or weaken new laws that pour billions into state coffers for education, child care, long-term care, and green energy and transportation projects. 

Think of this move as accepting tactical defeat in pursuit of a larger strategic victory. By allowing up-or-down votes² on Initiative 2113 to loosen restrictions on police pursuing criminal suspects, I-2111 to prohibit the state and local governments from imposing or collecting income taxes, and I-2081 to create a “bill of rights” for parents of public school children, Democrats would take the three measures most likely to pass off the ballot in November, in theory making the remainder of the slate less attractive. 

Expect House Speaker Laurie Jinkins to bring her most severe look when the initiatives come up for a vote. (Photo by Tim Gruver.)

Here’s why you should care about this: Those three initiatives are substantially less momentous — especially from a money perspective — than the three that would remain headed for the ballot in November. I-2111 essentially restores a ban on local income taxes that was tossed out by the Court of Appeals a few years ago on a technicality. Many of the provisions of the parental bill of rights already exist in state law. And while the current police-pursuit law was a victory for the social justice left, many lawmakers now have buyer’s remorse because of its on-the-ground consequences.³ 

The other three initiatives, meanwhile, would wipe out or weaken hard-won — and enormously lucrative — victories of core elements of the Democrats’ political coalition.