Pubdate: Wed, 03 Nov 1999 Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Tribune Contact: P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112 Fax: 805.781.7905 Website: http://www.thetribunenews.com/ Author: Douglas J. Rowe, Associated Press MAINE OKS MEDICAL MARIJUANA Anti-Abortion Measure In Maine Is Voted Down Maine defeated a ban on certain late-term abortions and approved a proposal to legalize medical marijuana Tuesday as voters elsewhere decided on measures ranging from a fishing ban to sweeping tax changes. The anti-abortion proposal lost with 201,115 voters or 55 percent opposed and 162,963 or 45 percent in favor, with 88 percent of precincts reporting. The medical marijuana measure had 223,957 votes, or 61 percent, to 140,637 or 39 percent. Oregonians defeated a measure that would have allowed murder convictions by an 11-1 jury vote instead of a unanimous one. In Washington state, voters approved America's most sweeping tax-revolt proposal - a ballot measure coupling a big car-tax cut with veto power over all future taxes and fees. It substitutes an annual fee of $30 per car to replace a much-maligned tax of 2.2 percent of the vehicle's value - hundreds of dollars for many motorists - for a tax break worth $750 million a year. And for the second time in four years, Washington voters rejected a proposal to ban most commercial fishing nets from state waters by a margin of 58 percent to 42 percent even though backers said it could save taxpayers' money in the fight to restore dwindling salmon runs. Also in Maine, Falmouth residents soundly rejected a ballot measure that would have nullified a homosexual-rights ordinance adopted unanimously by the town Council last spring. Among other measures: - - In a nonbinding referendum, the city of Ketchum, Idaho, decided to keep the 25-year-old tradition of mock six-gun shoot-out on Main Street during the community's annual Wagon Days festival. Supporters viewed it as good fun, but opponents mindful of the slayings at Columbine High School in Colorado wanted to do away with any show of violence. - - Voters in Missoula, Mont. defeated a measure to adopt a higher minimum wage of $8 for municipal employees and people whose employers receive at least $5,000 in city assistance. (The federal minimum wage is $5.15. some 40 U.S. cities and counties have such laws in some form.) - - Voters approved a $2.3 billion bond issue for 28 statewide road improvements in Colorado, including widening congested Interstate 25, which runs through Denver. A measure to expand a light-rail system in the Denver area also passed. - - A constitutional amendment to restrict Mississippi state legislators to back-to-back terms was defeated. Mississippi, which has a history of long-serving politicians, becomes the first state to reject limits after 18 other states adopted them in recent years. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea