Farm Bureau brings new version of bill to make it tougher for initiatives, referenda to make ballot

The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation has brought in a new version of its bill to make it tougher to get initiatives or referenda on the Idaho ballot, this time requiring signatures to come from 6 percent of residents of 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts, rather than from 22 of the 35  legislative districts. The new bill is otherwise identical to the group’s earlier measure . The Senate State Affairs Committee voted this morning to introduce the new version, but only after Sen. Elliiot Werk, D-Boise, said he’s heard from his constituents “a deep-seated anger with these kinds of attempts to lessen the ability of the people to petition us,” and Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, noted that a 9 ^th Circuit court decision cited by the Farm Bureau doesn’t indicate the courts would uphold such a restriction, which likely would land the state back in court. “I have some confidence that there’ll be a judicial opportunity for review should the Legislature adopt this approach,” Davis said.