PHOENIX (AP) - Republicans in the Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday pushed through the last of several measures targeting the initiative process, an effort they say is needed to bring fairness to the process and limit the power of out-of-state money.
The action came over the objections of Democrats, who call the efforts an attack on voters’ right to bypass lawmakers and write their own laws.
Republicans acknowledge their efforts were prompted by voter approval of a minimum wage increase in November and a failed effort to legalize recreational marijuana. They include three that will require voter approval and a fourth that can become law if the governor signs off,
The measure approved Wednesday would ask voters to require initiative backers gather signatures in all 30 legislative districts to get something on the ballot, instead of just a statewide percentage. HCR2029 by Rep. Don Shooter, D-Yuma, is now in the hands of the state Senate after it passed on a 33-23 vote.
Rep. Ken Clark, D-Phoenix, said during debate that the measure is inherently unfair because each district will have a differing number of required signatures and any one district could in effect veto a measure a majority of Arizonans support.
“This is an onerous requirement and it undermines people’s ability to participate,” Clark said.
Democrats argue the measure is designed to simply make it more difficult to qualify a voter initiative.
House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, defended the measure, saying it is fairer than the current system and ensures there is buy-in across the state to put a measure on the ballot.
“What Mr. Shooter is trying to get at it is that there must be buy-in from across the state,” Mesnard said.
Two other measures passed last week include would seek voter approval to repeal or revise the 1998 Voter Protection Act, which bars most changes to voter-approved laws.
All would be on the 2018 general election ballot if they pass the Senate. However, it is not uncommon for legislative leaders to limit the number of measures referred to the ballot, so their fate in the Senate remains unclear.
A bill not requiring voter approval also awaits Senate action after last week’s passage. It bans paying petition circulators per signature and requires only Senate approval and Gov. Doug Ducey’s signature to become law.
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