From Deseret News archives:
Let states set initiative rules
But that doesn't mean their case is without merit.
Utah lawmakers and voters made a mistake seven years ago when they decided to amend the state constitution to set a two-thirds threshold for all wildlife initiatives. That amendment treats one single issue differently than all other issues that could be addressed by the initiative process. Hunting issues are no more important than myriad others, including tax measures. The amendment was nothing more than the triumph of special-interest politics.
It would have been more fair to raise all initiatives to the two-thirds threshold, or to simply leave wildlife issues to the same restrictions as all other issues. In Utah, lawmakers have made initiatives so difficult as to render most frivolous petitions, and even most worthy ones, too costly.
Not surprisingly, those states are watching the 10th Circuit Court closely. Should the court toss out Utah's wildlife amendment, those other initiative laws could be in trouble, as well.
The citizen initiative process poses some inherent problems. It is a way for citizens to bypass representative government. Sometimes this is necessary, such as when special interests or other considerations keep lawmakers from recognizing the will of the electorate. But sometimes, special interests themselves can hijack the initiative process, gathering signatures by telling lies or inflating the truth, then bombarding the airwaves with misleading ads.
Unlike the normal legislative process, initiatives can't be amended by representatives whose constituents may have a stake in the outcome. That makes the process of direct democracy less fair.
But the U.S. Constitution doesn't address any of this. That means the court has to decide whether to enter murky waters and make an issue out of equal treatment and fairness. That would be ill-advised. Despite a flawed amendment in Utah, initiative issues are best left to the states.
Comments
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Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
You must have missed the part where he is kissing the Utes helmet.
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed? The majority of these (anti-pit)...
what are you talking about? the utes re going to ge crushed
Great Game Davis and Hunter. The Bingham and Davis game wil be a great one.
Wow...this thread just shows the closeminded nature of the average human...
lets get a school...that works hard in the offseason, goes through adversity...
I'm just glad they're alright, no matter what anyone says, i believe that...
Canadians live longer than we do. And you would say that canada is killing...
I love how this man is a victim and the girl is either lying or must be held...
RE: silly neocons | 1:08 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009 What are you talking...


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