GOP Solons Back Anti-Initiative Effort

SB 1108, the bill to make it tougher to qualify initiatives or referendum measures for the Idaho ballot, has cleared the Senate State Affairs Committee on a party-line vote, with only the panel’s two Democrats objecting. The vote came after three days of hearings, in which testimony was uniformly against the bill, which now moves to the full Senate. Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, who made the motion to pass the bill, said he worries about initiatives on cannabis and animal rights. Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, said in her view, the bill actually removes people’s voices, because once their legislative district has 6 percent, their signatures no longer count – only those from other counties. “In essence you’ve silenced or invalidated that vote in that district … above the cap,” she said/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise. More here.

DFO: Why don’t the Republican legislators simply pass a law that bans Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans from signing petitions for initiatives and referendums. Wouldn’t that solve their problem of an occasional initiative getting through already rigged system?

Thoughts?