I heartily agree. I once told a signature gatherer that the only initiative I would sign would be one to end initiatives! This process is so open to manipulation and influence peddling. As you say the legislature should do their job.
Very interesting piece on the double edged initiative process. It could be argued too that while removing the initiative process would move more lobbying directed back to elected officials, there is room for campaign-reform and anti-lobbyist laws to be passed to limit interest-group influence. Maybe passing these laws (ironically) through initiative and then ending the initiative process would be a good one-two combo to boost better representational legislation.
Well said, I’m just nervous about relying on initiatives at all. The optimist in me believes a revivalist Progressive movement that laser focused on good governance could reform campaigns and lobbying through the standard legislative-driven constitutional amendment process
I heartily agree. I once told a signature gatherer that the only initiative I would sign would be one to end initiatives! This process is so open to manipulation and influence peddling. As you say the legislature should do their job.
Very interesting piece on the double edged initiative process. It could be argued too that while removing the initiative process would move more lobbying directed back to elected officials, there is room for campaign-reform and anti-lobbyist laws to be passed to limit interest-group influence. Maybe passing these laws (ironically) through initiative and then ending the initiative process would be a good one-two combo to boost better representational legislation.
Well said, I’m just nervous about relying on initiatives at all. The optimist in me believes a revivalist Progressive movement that laser focused on good governance could reform campaigns and lobbying through the standard legislative-driven constitutional amendment process
Rampant state tax increases inevitably led to a correction. Some might learn from that, in today’s environment.