It’s said that money almost always wins, and sadly, in the case of Alaska’s Ballot Measure 4, it appears it was true.
Ballot Measure 4 (Mining Initiative):
- No: 95,615 votes, 57.14 percent
- Yes: 71,722 votes, 42.86 percent
Measure 4 was aimed squarely at preventing the Pending Pebble Mind Disaster by enforcing water quality standards for fisheries.
Mine proponents (most of whom were handsomely paid for their efforts) confused the issue to the point that most voters had no idea what the measure was really about.
“This will close all existing mines” was a common - and wholly misleading - refrain, and a long list of other misdirections were similarly broadcast.
This is hardly the end of it; the Pending Pebble Mine Disaster still has a lot of hoops to jump through, and while this ballot measure may have failed, we can still keep the pressure on.
See you at a political knife fight, Tom Chandler.
Powered by ScribeFire.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
g_rob 08.28.08 at 3:27 pm
How can CA anglers help?
Tom Chandler 08.28.08 at 6:04 pm
g-rob: At this point, I assume the battle moves from the ballot box back to the Guv/legislature.
I wish there was a clear-cut path forward, but rest assured I’ll let you know what’s coming.
fishskicanoe 08.29.08 at 2:33 pm
And McCain’s new VP choice, Sarah Palin, was squarely behind the pro-Pebble/anti-Bristol Bay vote. So much for McCain. Bought and sold by the same people who bought and sold us Bush.
Tom Chandler 08.29.08 at 3:01 pm
Interesting choice. McCain’s strategy was to attack Obama for his lack of experience, then undercuts that argument by picking a VP candidate with less experience.
Can’t say it’s a boring election.
fishskicanoe 08.29.08 at 6:17 pm
http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/29/sarah-palin-maverick-for-mining-interests/
‘Nuff said. Industry shill.