Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.
There’s a potential for a glut of initiatives and referenda on Montana’s November ballot, with three measures ordered by the legislature and a dozen submitted by citizens. Not all will make the ballot. And not all will be covered in this round-up. The full list is on the Montana Secretary of State’s website. The following are on my watch list.
LR-126 would end same-day voter registration. LR-127 would replace partisan primaries with a top two primary. Both are deeply partisan Republican policy objectives, the former to reduce the number of Democrats voting, the latter to keep Libertarians off the general election ballot. Update: A coalition of progressive Montana groups filed suit in December to keep both referenda off the ballot, contending LR-126 contains a false statement in its title, and LR-127 violates the Montana law limiting titles to 100 words. Not all of the groups opposing LR-126 joined the opposition to LR-127.
C-45 (ordered by HB-79) would change the name of the state auditor’s office to Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, a name more accurately describing what that office does. This shouldn’t be controversial, although it did encounter some resistance in the Senate.
Marijuana. No legalization initiative will appear on Montana’s 2014 general election ballot, although CI-111 had been approved for signature gathering. The people behind the initiative wisely concluded that the odds of approval in a midterm election were considerably lower than in a Presidential election, and that waiting until 2016 made sense. A lot of Democrats will privately heave a sigh of relief at not having to deal with this issue in a tough year for progressives, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be happy if they have to deal with it two years hence.
Medicaid expansion. A proposed initiative to expand Medicaid still has not passed legal muster, probably won’t for another month, and is encountering stiff opposition from Republicans who want to (a) keep it off the ballot if they can, and (b) shorten the time available to collect signatures if they can’t. The ferocity of the GOP’s opposition suggests the anti-Medicaid expansion crowd expects the measure to pass if it goes to the voters.
Trapping ban. I-167 would prohibit trapping animals — a cruel, morally degenerate practice — on public lands in Montana. It’s ready for signature gathering, but its supporters may lack enough people to collect enough signatures.
Reporting of political money. I-167 is the Republican antidote to the poison of dark money. It’s ready for signature gathering and has a high likelihood of making the ballot. If it does make the ballot, a lot of dark money will be spent to defeat it.
Initiative protection. CI-112 Reserves “…to the people the power to amend or repeal laws passed by initiative.” It’s approved for signature gathering. It’s also a spectacularly bad idea that would prevent the legislature from curing defects or mistakes in initiatives that if not cured would invoke the law of unintended consequences or the wrath of a court. My advice: don’t sign the petition, and vote against it if it makes the ballot.
Natural foods. Ballot Issue #3, a constitutional amendment proposed by Michael Hyde, and not yet approved for signature gathering, would “Establish a right to natural foods, medicines, waters and soils.” Why this is needed escapes me when Article IX of the Montana Constitution provides that “The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.” I find myself wondering whether Mr. Hyde wants to legalize practices that now run afoul of public health laws.