Home > Legislative Tracker > proposition 105; two-thirds vote

Ballot Measures:
proposition 105; two-thirds vote

Our Position: oppose
Bill Number: SCR1021
Sponsor: Huppenthal
Legislative Session: 2007 Legislative Session

It refers to the ballot a measure which changes the Voter Protection Act to require a 2/3 vote rather than a ¾ vote of the legislature in order for them to change a voter approved measure.  It also changes the language which says it has to further the purpose to it does not substantially change the purpose of the measure.  Combined, these appear to substantially weaken the provisions in the Voter Protection Act.

Status

Action Needed

More information

Go to http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SCR1021 to read the bill and the legislator's summary, plus see a more detailed status.

Contact

Background

The initiative and referendum process in some form is older than our country itself — it dates back to the 1600's when via town meetings, communities voted on ordinances and other issues.  The authors of the Arizona Constitution thought it was important to provide citizens with the initiative and referendum process to provide a check on the legislative branch and also to check the widespread corruption involving big business and its monopolies during this time.

The trend over the last several years has been for the Arizona Legislature to try and restrict citizens' rights to initiatives and referenda.  In 2000, the Legislature referred a measure that would have required a two-thirds vote on any wildlife measure.  The voters rejected that proposal overwhelmingly (62-38).  Over the years, there have been bills to require people who circulate petitions to wear badges to indicate if they are paid or volunteer, bills to require a certain percentage of signatures from each county, and bills to require payment for invalid signatures.

Because the Legislature consistently undercut citizen initiatives once they were passed on the ballot, the Voter Protection Act was promoted and passed in 1998.  While there may be some legitimate reform that is needed relative to the Act, we encourage you to reject SCR1021 and to instead sit down with those who have worked on ballot measures – from all over the political spectrum – and discuss this.