Idaho currently has the initiative process, which requires the signatures of 6% of the registered voters. Senator Curt McKenzie (R-Nampa) has introduced S1026. It requires that statewide initiative petitions ask each signer to write the signer’s legislative district on the petition. Also it says that a single petition sheet cannot contain signatures of voters from more than a single legislative district.
Idaho has 35 legislative districts. Probably the overwhelmingly majority of voters do not know their legislative district number. The bill also requires that the petition contain the signatures of 6% of the registered voters in at least 22 of the 35 legislative districts. The bill was reportedly introduced at the request of the Farm Bureau, which hopes to stop any future initiatives on the subject of cruelty to farm animals.
“The bill was reportedly introduced at the request of the Farm Bureau, which hopes to stop any future initiatives on the subject of cruelty to farm animals.”
What a bunch of idiots for supporting a bill like this so they can protect their “pet” (pun intended) issue. Don’t these people realize that by making it more difficult to get initiatives on the ballot (which is already difficult enough as it is), that they will also make it more difficult for themselves should they ever want to do a ballot initiative or referendum? This is like throwing the baby out with the bath water or burning down your own house.
Montana had a bill to change counties with legislative districts in the petition process. And a bill to be heard this week will be a constitutional amendment to prohibit hunting, fishing, trapping and those type of things from being submitted as initiatives. Pretty soon the process will be so watered down, it won’t matter. But the process will still be there.
Hmmm. Even statist incumbent MONSTERS in super-rightwing Idaho trying to stop Democracy ???
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P.R. and nonpartisan App.V. in ALL regimes.
#1 The Cattlemans Association in Nebraska has been a leading opponent to I&R since the cruelty to animals issue has come up. The Association is currently run by the meatpacking industry.