State ballot initiatives run gamut from pot to emissions

SEATTLE — Washington state voters rejected the nation’s first tax on carbon emissions in the costliest initiative fight in state history. And they approved a ballot measure to block local governments from imposing new taxes on soda or grocery items.

With more than 2 million votes counted Wednesday, 56 percent of voters rejected Initiative 1631, the carbon pollution fee measure that was closely watched nationwide. It would have charged large emitters an escalating fee starting at $15 per metric ton of emissions based on the carbon content of fossil fuels used or sold in the state or electricity generated within the state.

An estimated $2.3 billion in the first five years would have funded a range of programs aimed at cutting carbon pollution.

Voters in 37 states considered an array of intriguing ballot measures Tuesday.

Michigan voters legalized recreational marijuana for those who are 21 or older. A similar measure was defeated in North Dakota. Missouri became the 31st state to approve the medical use of marijuana, while Utah was considering that step.

In addition to passing a ballot measure that will enable more than 1 million ex-felons to regain their voting rights, Floridians approved a measure aimed at phasing out greyhound racing in the state, the last stronghold of the sport in the U.S.

Montana voters rejected a ballot measure that sought to extend the state’s Medicaid program by raising the tobacco tax and another that would have added strict cleanup requirements to new mines.

Minimum wage increases were approved in two states. An Arkansas measure will raise the wage from $8.50 an hour to $11 by 2021; Missouri’s will gradually raise the $7.85 minimum wage to $12 an hour.

While liberal-leaning groups succeeded in getting some of their favored policy proposals on the ballot in Republican-controlled states, the partisan pattern was reversed in a few states.

In Democratic-leaning Oregon, conservatives unsuccessfully targeted two policies. Voters there upheld a law allowing use of state money to pay for low-income women to have abortions, and they reaffirmed a “sanctuary state” law forbidding law enforcement agencies from using state resources or personnel to arrest people whose only crime is being in the U.S. illegally.

Colorado voters rejected a measure that could have sharply reduced oil and gas drilling, including the method known as fracking.