Changes In Initiative Process Ok’d By House Key Item: Signatures Must Represent 6 Percent Of Voters In Half The Counties

After a 90-minute debate Friday afternoon, the Idaho House approved changes in the initiative process on a 48-18 vote and sent the measure to the Senate.

“The way to protect the initiative right is to see that it is not abused,” said sponsor Rep. Ron Crane, R-Nampa. “People who have genuine statewide issues and organize their forces effectively still will be able to qualify their issues for the ballot.”

But opponents argued that with the changes proposed in the bill, there would be no more of the citizen-based, grass-roots initiative drives that have put issues on the ballot since 1933.

“It ensures there never will be another initiative done by volunteers,” said Rep. Ken Robison, D-Boise. “This bill absolutely means the death of citizen volunteer initiatives.”

Four initiatives made the 1996 general election ballot, with three of the four rejected by voters. As occurred in 1994, all of the successful petition drives made use of paid signature-gatherers.

Many legislators voiced concern about that trend. But the bill approved Friday does little about paid signature-gatherers, except to stress that they must be registered voters. Each petition also must declare whether it is being presented by a volunteer or someone paid to collect names.

The key provision in the bill requires sponsors to collect signatures from at least 6 percent of the registered voters in half of Idaho’s 44 counties.

Sponsors said that would guarantee that rural areas would have a part in the process, since sponsors wouldn’t be able to get all their names from the big counties.

Opponents argued that since 1933, people have had the right to put initiatives on the ballot and the new restriction would virtually end that right.

Highlights of the bill:

Sponsors would have to get signatures of at least 6 percent of the registered voters statewide. The current requirement is 10 percent of the vote cast in the last governor election, 41,335, and both sides agree the new requirement is about the same.

Petition drives would have 18 months from the time the drive starts to turn in names. There is no time limit now.

Eliminated from the bill was a requirement that sponsors turn at least 25 percent of the signatures six months after the drive started.

There’s an opportunity for judicial review of proposals before the election.

“Money has become the key to the initiative process,” Crane said. “Now there are companies that for the right price will virtually guarantee that your issue gets on the ballot.”

“It’s an onion bill,” said Rep. Jim Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint. “When you start to peel it, it makes your eye weep. The more you peel it, the more you weep. When you get down to it, you have nothing but tears.”

Rep. Ruby Stone, R-Boise, said in the last two elections, initiatives have gathered most of their names from a few big counties.

“I think that is blatantly unfair to the people who live in the less-populated counties. They have a right to know what that initiative is all about before they get into the polling place.”

“I’m going to oppose this bill because the people do,” said Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Idaho Falls.