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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP legislators clamping down on voter initiatives
In November, 64 percent of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing former felons to regain their right to vote. Three weeks later, a Republican state representative introduced legislation that would require constitutional amendments to earn 67 percent of the vote to pass.
In Missouri, voters passed measures to raise the minimum wage, legalize medical marijuana and take legislative redistricting out of the hands of legislators. A month later, state House Republicans introduced a bill to nearly double the number of signatures needed to qualify an initiative for the ballot.
In Idaho, 60 percent of voters approved an initiative to expand Medicaid to cover low-income residents. Last week, a Republican state senator introduced legislation to increase both the number and geographic spread of signatures required to qualify an initiative.
Republican legislators in states across the country have introduced dozens of bills that would make significant changes to the initiative and referendum process, tightening rules and raising requirements after their voters approved progressive proposals that legislators opposed or refused to take up.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/434309-gop-legislators-clamp-down-on-voter-initiatives
kimbutgar
(21,182 posts)Too bad the people in those states are so brainwashed by right wing ideology they wont vote all repukes out of Office.
keithbvadu2
(36,890 posts)Something about 'big government'.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,412 posts)Andy823
(11,495 posts)Of why local and state politics is important. When voters express their views by voting for initiatives, and then the "republicans" in charge find ways to stop these initiatives, it should cause outrage towards those state leaders who are doing this.
I know it's not easy in republican controlled states, but massive voter turn out could help get rid of any politician that does this kind of thing. So many people just don't get out and vote, and that's something we need to work on.