Although he called himself a "fan forever" of initiative & referendum, Governor Pataki hasn't made it a front burner issue during his two terms. The sudden fervor to pass a constitutional amendment to allow this direct democracy had an election year air about it. The leaders of the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties were at Pataki's side. Frank MacKay of the Independence party said Pataki pushing Initiative & referendum "doesn't hurt the governor's chances" of winning the party's endorsement. If that happened, it could prevent one of the Independence Party's founders, millionaire Tom Golisano, from getting the party's ballot line if he decides to run again.
The amendment would put an issue before voters if supporters could gather a quarter million signatures, about 5% of the last gubernatorial vote. To avoid one populated region of the state taking over the process, 5,000 signatures each would have to be gathered in 60% of the congressional districts.