After nearly three hours of contentious debate on Friday, Idaho House lawmakers voted to make it significantly harder to put a citizens’ initiative on the ballot.
State Representatives passed two measures Friday. The first, approved 40-30, would require campaigns to collect nearly twice as many signatures from across the state – a move championed by supporters who say it will give more of a voice to rural residents.
The second proposal, passed 47-22, modifies the first bill, loosening the amount of time groups have to gather signatures from 6 months to 9 months. Current Idaho law allows for up to 18 months.
Right now, signatures are needed from 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts.
The first bill jumps that requirement to 32, while the second measure calls for 24. Even with that slight rollback, opponents on both sides of the aisle say it will still make it nearly impossible for campaigns to realistically put an initiative before Idaho voters.
Republican Representative Priscilla Giddings, of White Bird, says the bill actually degrades Idaho’s system of checks and balances, and stifles grassroots efforts that try to take action when the legislature is deadlocked.
The original bill will soon go to Governor Brad Little’s desk for his signature, though he hasn’t made his thoughts public.
Opponents say the issue will ultimately be struck down by a judge on the grounds that it’s unconstitutional. An opinion from the Idaho Attorney General’s office says constricting the time frame for signature gathering “could be problematic,” though that would be slightly increased under the new bill.
The Senate could debate the new bill as early as Monday. That chamber approved the original measure 18-17. (AP, Boise State Public Radio News)
