U.S. Voters Just Say No to Varied Propositions : Democracy: Ballot measures are used cautiously even though the largest array of choices in 50 years was available in hundreds of elections.

It was the grandest, biggest lineup of ballot propositions in more than 50 years, but American voters showed themselves downright tentative this election in employing “direct democracy” to set the agenda their own way. They said no to more government spending, no to more tax cutting, no to criminalizing abortion and no to a green or environmental revolution.

But given the chance, they also broke from this embrace of the status quo to say no to life tenure for politicians.

Overall, more than 220 ballot propositions were decided in 43 states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday, and hundreds more in local elections. Among the total were 67 measures placed on the ballot by voter petition drives, the most since 1932, according to experts.

Because of Washington’s long and partisan budget battle and fear of recession at every corner, public votes on taxes and spending were keenly anticipated this autumn.

What the electorate said was this is no time for derring-do. Six states to one sided against the tax revolt.

Anti-tax measures were defeated in Massachusetts, Nebraska, Montana, Utah and Colorado. Only in Oregon did the embers of the anti-tax movement glow hot. There, voters joined the list of states where citizens have ordered a rollback in property taxes.

In Massachusetts, the verdict was no on a huge $2.6-billion tax cut. In Nebraska, it was no to limiting government spending increases. In Utah, it was no to a repeal of sales taxes on food. In Montana, it was no to abolishing all taxes and replacing them with a 1-cent transaction charge on every $1 that changed hands. In Colorado, voters said no to requiring a plebiscite on all future tax increases.

In Oregon, the contrary mood was expressed with approval of a proposition ordering a reduction of 45% in property taxes phased in by 1995.

The other side of the tax-revolt coin were proposals to increase taxes or spending. They fared poorly, too. Montana joined California in saying no to new sin taxes, rejecting an additional levy on cigarettes. Arizona said no on spending $6 billion more on schools.

Abortion and the environment were two other concerns that played on a national stage in 1990.

Just as in California, with its rejection of the Big Green proposition, voters in Oregon, Washington state, New York, South Dakota and Missouri all turned down environmentalist-backed measures.

In New York the issue was $1.9 billion in environmental bonds. In Oregon, it was shutting down a nuclear power plant and imposing new recycling rules. In Washington, it was statewide land-use planning. In Missouri it was streamside development. In South Dakota it was mining in the Black Hills.

But Arizonans and Minnesotans approved dedicating portions of state lottery revenue to preserving the environment.

The status quo on abortion rights was preserved in two Western states. Nevada wrote abortion rights into its constitution. And Oregon rejected both a ban on abortions and a proposal requiring that parents be notified before teens receive an abortion.

Incumbents survived the much ballyhooed choler of voters. But not the incumbent way of life.

Besides California, Colorado and Kansas City, Mo., voted to limit terms for officeholders. Efforts to put similar measures on the ballot are already under way in Florida, Illinois, New York and Ohio, among others.

In the political stew of other ballot propositions this fall, Alaskans fell into line in the war on drugs and made marijuana possession a crime. For 15 years, the state permitted growing and possessing small amounts of the drug.

Saddled with an image as the new wild west, Florida voted for a three-day waiting or cooling-off period for purchasers of guns. Maine wiped from the books its old “blue law” that prohibited retail commerce on Sunday.

Oregon cast a vote of confidence for public schools, rejecting the idea of allowing parents to choose whatever school they wished for their children and providing $2,500 tax credits for those who opt for private schools.

Among several gambling measures this election, Colorado approved casino gambling for three small mountain towns. But Ohio said no to casinos in the town of Lorain.

Among local ballot measures of national interest, Staten Island voters decided to study the pros and cons of secession from New York. Washington, D.C., turned down a proposal requiring the city to provide overnight shelter for anyone seeking it. And Seattle retained a symbolic law allowing spousal benefits for gay couples who are municipal workers.

Times researcher Doug Conners contributed to this story.