Governor
George Pataki wants state residents to have an Initiative and Referendum
mechanism. Through I&R, residents can petition to bring measures to
statewide ballot on issues the Legislature refuses to address.
California and most of the other western states have just such a
mechanism. Sensitive issues that the legislators fear to take up are
routinely placed on the ballot. The public deserves a right to vote on
such initiatives as educational vouchers, legalized suicide, limitations
on taxes and other hotly contested issues that the legislature steers
clear of.
The New York State Senate in a 37:3 vote approved an Initiative and
Referendum bill. It is expected the Assembly will also vote on this bill
before the close of the session unless Assembly Majority Leader Silver
keeps it bottled up in committee and does not allow it to come up for a
vote.
An I&R mechanism has long been the goal of citizen activists and the
Conservative and Independent parties as well as many civic
organizations. I&R puts democracy back into government. It equalizes
the citizen's vote with that of a legislator.
Because of New York's size and diverse population, bills will not be
able to be easily placed on the ballot. Although the I&R mechanism
is not spelled out at this time, it is expected that 5% of those who
voted in the last gubernatorial election will have to sign a petition
requesting that a proposal be placed on a ballot before the issue will
be placed on the ballot.
As always, the devil is in the details. Suffolk County's original
I&R mechanism required the process to be completed within 365 days.
If each branch of government and the petitioners used the allotted time
they were given, the process could not be completed in less than 400
days. This I&R bill was written by conniving legislators who knew
full well they were subverting the intent of the law and the process.
Let's keep an eye on the Assembly. It would behoove you to call your own
Assemblypeople and let them know that you are aware that democracy is in
their hands. You want them to vote for this bill.
And why not?
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