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<br />Lapltol ~ummary 0LL,,-.o~,2.000
<br />Initiative process needs reform
<br />
<br />Do you recall the last time you went to cast your
<br />vote and were shockNl to see that there were more
<br />than 40 itl''''s on the six. page ballot?
<br />Over the Y(,~\l's, the number .of initiatives has
<br />inCl'CHsl.d. There \VCl'C :35 initiatives on the ballot
<br />ill Colorado dul"ing the 1990s, which is more than
<br />the total between 1 fliO and
<br />1989.
<br />, There ar(' Hlrcady 260
<br />initiatives that have heen
<br />drafted for the election'
<br />ballotthis\'l'ar. Since 1912
<br />when C'olorado first
<br />adopt.ed an initiative pro.
<br />('PSg, only as percent. of
<br />pl'oposed initiatives have
<br />been approve(l hy voters.
<br />Initiatives to amend a
<br />statute 01' create a law can
<br />be proposed by Colorado
<br />citiiens and approved by voters..
<br />Some view the initiativ~ process as an essential
<br />., fof,m of a cil\z~n government while others consider
<br />it a wa.v of instituting hasty policy decisions.
<br />Although this process is considered to be direct
<br />democracy, therd lire several dra\vbacks. Certain
<br />rules and procedures are required for getting an
<br />initiative on the ballot. However, much latitude is
<br />given to the author in how it's written, and abuse
<br />of this lawmaking tool seems to be becoming ,,,ide.
<br />spread. ' . ' .
<br />Many initiatives are generated by special inter;
<br />est groups and trade associations who have plenty
<br />of fui,ding for campaigns. :Itwas"reported that
<br />-states who have numerous special interest groups
<br />have a groater probability ofhavinginiti!\tives on
<br />the bullot. While this may be the case for most
<br />
<br />
<br />" '~
<br />GIGI DENNIS
<br />
<br />states, Colorado hlls a unique situation where the
<br />majority of this yeM', initiatives were proposed by
<br />oniy one I~crson.
<br />Tax critic. Douglas Bruce. has been the author
<br />of morc th(m160 different proposals this year, and
<br />most of them differ bv onlv a word or two.
<br />His effo'rts have airead'y cost taxpayers more
<br />than $90,POO, including more than 320 hours of
<br />staff time; It is ironic that while his cause is to
<br />reduce government. WAste; he seems eager towastc
<br />taxpayer Qollars in the process.
<br />I, believe reform is needed for our initiative
<br />process, and I intend to introduce such legislation.
<br />The Legislature may also consider other proposals
<br />to change !the initiative process.
<br />AdditiolmJ)y, I'm sponsoring a bill that would
<br />allow individuals to remove the-ir name from a
<br />petition h?fore it is submitted to the secretary of
<br />state.
<br />Cl\l"rent law prohibits a signature from being
<br />taken off a petition. However, many times,ind1.
<br />viduals'sign a petition and change their mind
<br />through ~he c0ur,se of the signature. gathering
<br />period aft9r becoilii'lg more kno\vledgeable'about .
<br />thc'issue., . '
<br />It is ess~ntial to our lawmaking system to have
<br />as much~itizen involvement in government as
<br />possible. The public has certain expectations for
<br />Jawmakets to legislate responsibly. I believe that
<br />citizens should also be held' to these standards in
<br />the initiative process. Abuse of the system not
<br />only demonstrates poor policymaking, it destroys
<br />the true sense of democracy.
<br />State Senator Gigi Dennis represents Senate
<br />District 5 which inclctdes Pueblo, Alamosa. Conejos,
<br />Costilla, Ouster, Huerfano. Las Animas, Mineral.
<br />Rio Grande and Saguache counties.
<br />
<br />Roadless Initiative step in right directior
<br />
<br />
<br />Dear Ellitor, .", .
<br />The following letter has been sent to the USDA
<br />Forest Service: , miJn€, ?
<br />I am writing to request the for~st st'>w'ice to
<br />support President Clinton's RoadIes,s Initi~tive ti!'
<br />protect more than 40 million acre:s of</'l.ational
<br />forest wilderness. This initiative is:at last a steji
<br />in the right direction. We need to preserve land
<br />that has n.ot yet been disturbed by logging or roa'cJ
<br />construction. 3
<br />The initiative reflects a new way of thinkiri'g
<br />about other living things, plants and, animals that
<br />inhabit this earth wilh us. This view has been
<br />termed deep ecology and maintains that oth.!r
<br />living things have a right to live thqir lives. i,
<br />Do humans have any more right, to kill oth~r
<br />living things or destroy their habitat1(homes) than
<br />they have the right to kill us and destroy oUr
<br />homes? Clearly not.. Even putting ethics asid~
<br />and not considering the rights of animals. narrow
<br />human self.interest is reasoli enough to leave
<br />what is left of the natural world alone. Destroy'it
<br />and we destroy ourselves, ~.
<br />, .Sineerely;
<br />
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