Initiative and Referendum(I&R)

by Art Bedford

- what it is and why Texans need it

• How many new laws do you think our Texas Legislature passes each session?

• How many laws that were passed last session did you really ask for?

• Do you have an issue you want to see state legislation on but nothing has been done?

• Do you know of any state law you believe should be repealed?

Questions to Ponder

SPECIAL INTERESTS

TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Our Legislators At Work

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?145856192011

$230M160155442001

$276M138455922003

$304M138954842005

$348M148261902007

$344M145974192009

LOBBYIST SPENDING

TOTAL BILLS

PASSED

TOTAL BILLS

PROPOSEDYEAR

NOTES: (1) A regular session of our TEXAS Legislature is 140 DAYS long. (2) TOTAL BILLS PROPOSED/PASSED means NEW LAWS PROPOSED/PASSED.

Who writes or reads the bills?

I&R = Tool

Constitution

I&R

Special Interests

I&R – Definitions

• Initiative - a proposal of a new law or constitutional amendment that is placed on the ballot by petition, that is, by collecting signatures of a certain number of citizens.

• Referendum - a proposal to repeal a law that was previously enacted by the legislature, and that is placed on the ballot by citizen petition.

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Freedom – not politics

• Citizens can impose limitations on their state governments.

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California’s Proposition 13• Background: California homeowners had

experienced a decade of spiraling property taxes

• The Initiative: A constitutional amendment to require two-thirds majority vote of the electorate for any local government entity to raise property taxes.

• placed on the ballot by over one million registered voters

• Approved by a two-to-one margin5

• Citizens can impose limitations on their state governments.

• Citizens can propose legislation on issues they care about.

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Freedom – not politics

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• Citizens can impose limitations on their state governments.

• Citizens get to vote on issues they care about

• Citizens have a means to repeal harmful laws.

Freedom – not politics

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Initiative Proposal Examples

• Right of women to vote• Voter approval of new

tax increases• Prohibition of state-

funded abortions• Legalized use of

marijuana for medical purposes

• Term limits on elected officials

• Disclosure of campaign finances

• abolishment of poll taxes

• Right to assisted suicide• Marriage defined as

between man & woman

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I&R vs Special Interests

SPECIAL INTEREST CONTROL

I&R = Issues we care about

I&R – What must be done?

• Texas House & Senate pass Joint Resolution to amend Constitution to grant us I&R rights.

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I&R – What must be done?

• Texas House & Senate pass Joint Resolution to amend Constitution to grant us I&R rights.

• Voters must vote for I&R rights when it appears as a Proposition on the ballot.

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I&R – Poll Question

““In 24 states, citizens can sign a petition to put laws or constitutional amendments on the ballot to be decided by the voters at a statewide election. This process is known as initiative and referendum. Would you favor or oppose the initiative and referendum process in your state?”

Favor_____ Oppose____ Undecided____

Pulse Opinion Research random survey of 500 adult Texans, July 2010

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I&R – Poll Results

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231067Female141769MaleGender

UndecidedOpposeFavorDEMOGRAPHIC

PERCENTAGES

I&R – Poll Results

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29145765 +

14107640-49

16147150-64

19166530-393106918-29Age

UndecidedOpposeFavorDEMOGRAPHIC

PERCENTAGES

I&R – Poll Results

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221266Other

31662Black171469WhiteRace

UndecidedOpposeFavorDEMOGRAPHIC

PERCENTAGES

I&R – Poll Results

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221266Other

192259Democrat

23770RepublicanPolitical Affiliation

UndecidedOpposeFavorDEMOGRAPHIC

PERCENTAGES

I&R – Poll Results

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45055Unsure

102961Liberal

241363Moderate

19873ConservativeIdeology

UndecidedOpposeFavorDEMOGRAPHIC

PERCENTAGES

I&R – Poll Results

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201168$75K – $100K

102466>$100K

30961Unsure

13978$60K - $75K

27370$40K - $60K

152560$20K - $40K

24372<$20KIncome

UndecidedOpposeFavorDEMOGRAPHIC

PERCENTAGES

I&R – Poll Results

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221464Unmarried Voters

181369Married Voters

191368Likely Voters

UndecidedOpposeFavorDEMOGRAPHIC

PERCENTAGES

I&R – What must be done?

• Texas House & Senate pass Joint Resolution to amend Constitution to grant us I&R rights.

• Voters must vote for I&R rights when it appears as a Proposition on the ballot.

• Must counter Special Interest Group media attacks during both events

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What we can do about it!

• Aggressively take action.• Go to our website: http://www.initiativefortexas.org• Get a FREE account on: http://www.grasshop.com

• Click on “Groups” and find “Texans for Initiative & Referendum Rights”

• Click on “Join Now”

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What we can do about it!

Aggressively take action (Cont’d)• Donate your time and talents to get I&R

for Texas.• Invite a Texans for I&R spokesperson to

speak to your organization. Email: acbedfo@hotmail.com

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William JanklowGovernor of South Dakota

1979-1987

"The world is spattered with unrest: rebel forces, civil disobedience, war, civil war, tyranny, and genocide. Any place average citizenshave no voice or are losing ground in the fight to control their own lives is one place too many. If we believe in liberty, if we believe in the dignity of the human spirit, if we believe in justice for all, then citizen lawmaking is as essential to the future as it was to the past. This process is terribly important to the well being of this country. It must accompany us into the new century. By reviewing and honing the process, and most importantly by understanding and using these tools of democracy, we can preserve and even expand every citizen’s right to have a voice in the government."