Senate OKs Muzzling People’s Voice

From Kestrel West Morning Memo: A measure requiring geographic representation for signature petitions seeking ballot measures has passed overwhelmingly in the Idaho Senate. News coverage remains skeptical. The bill, pushed by the Idaho Farm Bureau, would require signatures from 6 percent of the voters in each of 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts, rather than just 6 percent statewide, as current law requires.  Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, the bill’s lead sponsor, said, “I do think we should look at something that is inclusive of people all across the state.” He noted that people are collecting signatures now for a marijuana initiative, and the Farm Bureau is worried about possible animal rights initiatives … He also said he fears that Idaho could go the way of California, with numerous ballot measures sponsored by a wealthy few. … McKenzie said, “There’s a perception that this relates to Props 1, 2 and 3” … “This doesn’t go back in time… If you had this in place, it wouldn’t have changed that at all.” Betsy Russell’s Eye on Boise Report here.

Question: The Idaho Republican Party and its minions in the Idaho Legislature have taken away our open primaries. It has taken away our right to vote for president in the GOP primary. And now it’s trying to make it harder to pass initiatives to overturn its bad laws (see: Luna Laws). What voter privilege do you think it’ll try to take away next?