DOWNLOAD VIDEO Along with determining the members of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate, the midterm elections will decide a number of important local policy issues around the nation. Environment In North Dakota, environments and energy companies are fighting for control of the state’s resources. Drilling companies pay $2 billion in taxes to North Dakota each year, and conservationist groups developed an amendment to the state constitution that would devote $100-150 million of that money to environmental efforts. Oil companies such as the American Petroleum Institute have responded that the amendment would take money from other public resources like schools and law enforcement. Recent state polls show a nearly evenly divided public opinion on the issue. Minimum wage In Arkansas, Alaska, South Dakota, Nebraska and Illinois, the vote could decide a minimum wage increase for millions of workers. In Arkansas, the minimum wage is currently $6.25, which is below the federal minimum wage of $7.25. The issue is important to Democrats, many of whom want to raise the wage, according to NewsHour politics editor Lisa Desjardins. Abortion Several states have proposed laws that would limit legal abortion. Tennessee, Colorado and North Dakota have measures on the ballot that would restrict abortion in their states. Tennessee’s ballot measure would allow state lawmakers more control over abortion laws. In North Dakota, proposed measures would change the legal definition of “personhood” to an early stage of conception, while Colorado would redefine a “person” to include fetuses. Critics say these definition changes would limit access to abortion for women in those states. Guns In Washington state, two conflicting ballot measures focus on background checks for gun ownership. One measure would prohibit background checks except in cases where they are required by the federal government. The other measure would require background checks for participants in gun shows and private sales.

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Warm up questions

1. Regardless of whether you are able to vote yet, what are some of the political issues that are most important to you? In states across the country, some of the topics that will be watched closely are the environment, minimum wage, abortion and guns. Are these topics important to you? Are there any topics that you feel like should also be in the spotlight during the elections? Explain your answers.


2. What is the difference between a midterm election and a presidential election?


3. Where is North Dakota? Would it surprise you to know that energy companies in North Dakota paid $2 billion in taxes last year? When you think of areas rich in energy resources, what do you usually picture and why?


4. How might the goals of energy companies and environmentalists conflict?

Critical thinking questions

1. Were you surprised to hear that hunters and environmental advocates are fighting to conserve the environment? Why or why not? What do both groups have in common?


2. In general, which groups support the ballot initiative to force five percent of energy revenue taxes to fund environmental efforts to support wildlife, parks and clean water initiatives? How are they trying to convince people to vote “yes” on the ballot initiative? Do you think they will be successful? Why or why not? What is the stance the energy companies have taken on ballot initiative five? Explain your answer.