Merge pull request #98 from OpenMaine/july-statewide

Adds July questions

_layouts/home.html

@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ <h3 class="archive__subtitle">COVID-19 update</h3>
 
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 <h3 class="archive__subtitle">{{ site.data.ui-text[site.locale].recent_posts | default: "Statewide ballot questions" }}</h3>
-<p>There aren't currently any statewide ballot questions for the next election.</p>
 
 {% for post in paginator.posts reversed %}
   {% if post.election == site.data.elections.current_election %}

_posts/2020-07-14-Q1_Internet.md

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+---
+title:  "Question 1: Internet Infrastructure"
+excerpt: This measure would allow the state to borrow $15 million for high-speed internet infrastructure improvements.
+election: 2020-07-14
+header:
+  overlay_image: /assets/img/2020_07/Q1_Internet.jpg
+  teaser: /assets/img/2020_07/Q1_Internet.jpg
+  overlay_filter: 0.5 # same as adding an opacity of 0.5 to a black background
+  image_description: Broadband internet wires
+search: true
+categories:
+- July 2020 Election
+tags:
+- Internet
+- Infrastructure
+- Bond
+yes_vote:   I am in favor of borrowing $15 million to improve high-speed internet infrastructure.
+no_vote: I don't want Maine to borrow $15 million to improve high-speed internet infrastructure.
+last_modified_at: 2020-06-10 T08:06:00-05:00
+---
+
+## The gist
+Passing this question would allow the state to borrow $15 million, matched by $30 million in other funds, for high-speed internet infrastructure improvements in areas where infrastructure is lacking.[^1]
+
+## Ballot question
+“Do you favor a $15,000,000 bond issue to invest in high-speed internet infrastructure for unserved and underserved areas, to be used to match up to $30,000,000 in federal, private, local or other funds?”[^1]
+
+{% include yes-no-table.html %}
+
+
+## Tell me more
+Passing this question would allow the State of Maine to borrow $15 million for the ConnectME Authority, a public organization responsible for promoting high-speed internet usage in unserved and underserved areas of Maine.[^2]
+
+This is a **bond issue** -- if voters approve the bond, it means that the State of Maine is allowed to borrow money for the project described in the ballot question and has to pay it back over 10 years.[^3] [Learn more about how bonds work](/bonds).
+
+## Follow the money
+Principal: $15,000,000
+Interest: $4,125,000 (assumes 5.0% over 10 years)
+Total cost: $19,125,000 [^4]
+
+### The money will be used to:
+* Improve high-speed internet access in unserved and underserved areas of Maine. [^2]
+
+### The money will be coming from:
+* $15 million bond issued by the state and paid back through the budget and taxes over 10 years.[^2]
+* Up to $30 million in federal, private, local, or other matching funds.[^1]
+
+## Pros
+The primary arguments for this referendum are:
+
+* About 50% of the state is considered unserved or underserved for high-speed internet access. [^3]
+* There's an increased need for high-speed internet with schools moving online and people working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
+* High-speed internet can improve services such as healthcare and education. [^3]
+* New residents and businesses may be attracted to Maine if the state has high-speed internet access, especially as businesses and employees look for lower cost locations as more businesses move to remote working models. [^3]
+* Low population density makes it difficult to the private sector to provide this infrastructure. [^3]
+* Issuing the bond opens up matching funds.
+* Interest rates are currently low, making it a good time to invest.
+
+## Cons
+The primary arguments against this referendum are:
+* Maine already has $1.43 billion in outstanding bond debt that this will add to and it could lead to increased taxes.[^2]
+* Residents of more populated may not think it's worth paying for infrastructure in less populated rural areas.
+
+## Who cares
+Nobody has registered support or opposition to this bond.
+
+## Further reading
+[Full text](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/chapters/PUBLIC673.asp)
+[Ballotpedia article](https://ballotpedia.org/Maine_Question_1,_High-Speed_Internet_Infrastructure_Bond_Issue_(July_2020))
+[ConnectMaine State of Maine Broadband Action Plan](https://www.maine.gov/connectme/sites/maine.gov.connectme/files/inline-files/State%20of%20Maine%20-%20Statewide%20Broadband%20Action%20Plan%202020_1.pdf)
+
+## References
+[^1]: Maine State Legislature. [An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Infrastructure To Improve Transportation and Internet Connections](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/chapters/PUBLIC673.asp). Accessed June 3, 2020.
+
+[^2]: Ballotpedia State Desk. [Maine Question 1, High-Speed Internet Infrastructure Bond Issue (July 2020)](https://ballotpedia.org/Maine_Question_1,_High-Speed_Internet_Infrastructure_Bond_Issue_(July_2020)). Ballotpedia. Accessed June 3, 2020.
+
+[^3]: ConnectMaine. [ConnectMaine State of Maine Broadband Action Plan](https://www.maine.gov/connectme/sites/maine.gov.connectme/files/inline-files/State%20of%20Maine%20-%20Statewide%20Broadband%20Action%20Plan%202020_1.pdf). Accessed June 3, 2020.
+
+[^4]: Treasurer of State. [Treasury Statement](https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/pdf/treasstatement2020.pdf). Accessed June 10, 2020.

_posts/2020-07-14-Q2_Transportation.md

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+---
+title:  "Question 2: Transportation"
+excerpt: This measure would allow the state to borrow $105 million for transportation improvements.
+election: 2020-07-14
+header:
+  overlay_image: /assets/img/2018_11/Question3Transportation.jpg
+  teaser: /assets/img/2018_11/Question3Transportation.jpg
+  overlay_filter: 0.5 # same as adding an opacity of 0.5 to a black background
+  image_description: Road in need of repair
+search: true
+categories:
+- July 2020 Election
+tags:
+- Transportation
+- Bond
+yes_vote:   I am in favor of issuing the $105 million bond to address infrastructure improvements.
+no_vote: I do not want Maine to borrow $105 million to address infrastructure improvements.
+last_modified_at: 2020-06-10 T08:06:00-05:00
+---
+
+## The gist
+Passing this question would allow the state to borrow $105 million, matched by $275 million in federal and other funds, for transportation improvements.
+
+## Ballot question
+"Do you favor a $105,000,000 bond issue for improvement of highways and bridges statewide and for multimodal facilities or equipment related to transit, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, ports, harbors, marine transportation and active transportation projects, to be used to match an estimated $275,000,000 in federal and other funds?"[^1]
+
+{% include yes-no-table.html %}
+
+
+## Tell me more
+Passing this question would allow the State of Maine to borrow $105 million for a variety of infrastructure improvements, including roads, bridges, railroads, airports, transit and ports.[^2] The bulk of the money will go towards high priority highways and bridges.
+
+This is a **bond issue** -- if voters approve the bond, it means that the State of Maine is allowed to borrow money for the project described in the ballot question and has to pay it back over 10 years.[^3] [Learn more about how bonds work](/bonds).
+
+## Follow the money
+Principal: $106,000,000
+<br>Interest: $29,150,000 (assumes 5.0% over 10 years)
+<br>Total cost: $135,150,000[^3]
+
+### The money will be used to:
+* $90 million for highways, bridges, and MaineDOT's Municipal Partnership Initiative (MPI) [^2]
+* $15 million for multimodal facilities and equipment related to transit, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, ports, harbors, marine transportation, and active transportation projects [^2]
+
+### The money will be coming from:
+* $105 million bond issued by the state and paid back through the budget and taxes over 10 years.[^2]
+* $275million in matching funds from federal and other funds. [^2]
+
+## Pros
+The primary arguments for this referendum are:
+* Maine’s roads and infrastructure are deteriorating.
+* Makes up for some of the shortfall in gas taxes from fuel-efficient vehicles that has left the funds for highway repairs insufficient.
+* Issuing the bond opens up matching funds.
+* Interest rates are currently low, making it a good time to invest.
+
+## Cons
+The primary arguments against this referendum are:
+* Maine already has $1.43 in outstanding bond debt that this will add to and it could lead to increased taxes. [^2]
+
+## Who cares
+Nobody has registered support or opposition to this bond.
+
+## Further reading
+[Full text](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/chapters/PUBLIC673.asp)
+[Ballotpedia article](https://ballotpedia.org/Maine_Question_2,_Transportation_Infrastructure_Bond_Issue_(July_2020))
+
+## References
+[^1]: Maine State Legislature. [An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Infrastructure To Improve Transportation and Internet Connections](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/chapters/PUBLIC673.asp). Accessed June 3, 2020.
+
+[^2]: Ballotpedia State Desk. [Maine Question 2, Transportation Infrastructure Bond Issue (July 2020)](https://ballotpedia.org/Maine_Question_2,_Transportation_Infrastructure_Bond_Issue_(July_2020)). Ballotpedia. Accessed June 3, 2020.
+
+[^3]: Treasurer of State. [Treasury Statement](https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/pdf/treasstatement2020.pdf). Accessed June 10, 2020.