Lawmakers seek option to alter impact of ballot initiatives

Source: Associated Press


Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press

 Updated 4:21 pm, Thursday, March 1, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Facing the possibility that voters could change laws on several hot-button issues, Utah lawmakers are considering giving themselves the option to change any voter-approved measure before it goes into effect, a move that comes as lawmakers around the country work to limit the effects of ballot initiatives.

Utah voters could have the opportunity to consider an unusually high six ballot initiatives, ranging from medical marijuana, school funding and Medicaid expansion, making at least one lawmaker uneasy.

"I'm nervous about the concept of empowering the citizenry to intervene so swiftly and rapidly as to even derail the deliberative and systematic processes of the Legislature," said Republican Rep. Travis Seegmiller of St. George.

Opponents argue there's already a high bar to get questions on the ballot and creating an approximately six-month delay for any successful measures would undercut the will of the voters.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Utah-lawmakers-OK-plan-to-delay-any-12720163.php