Haddam Land Swap Illustrates the need for Initiative and Referendum

Let’s say a powerful state Senator is pushing a bill that you are opposed to. Let’s say this bill looks like it will pass and the governor will sign it when it hits his desk. Suppose that you and your friends are so incensed at the actions to be carried out in this bill that you would be willing to circulate a petition to put the question on the ballot so that all of the citizens could have their voice heard.

If you live in Washington, Oregon, Montana and several other states you could do just that. But wait, this is Connecticut. You have no options but to convince the folks in the legislature to vote your way. Even if 95 percent of the people see the folly of the government they have no voice. They have to wait out the election cycle to address their concerns.

By then the damage is done.

Twenty-four states allow Initiative and Referendum. They are predominantly in the western half of the country. States that have initiative and referendum also have higher voter turnout, lower taxes, lower state spending and more local control of spending. Living in the state with the latest tax freedom day in the country makes I&R a very attractive proposition. Connecticut needs Initiative and Referendum Now.

Many of our founders and prominent figures in our country have weighed in on I&R. The one that fits our current situation is a quote from Teddy Roosevelt: “I believe in the Initiative and Referendum, which should be used not to destroy representative government, but to correct it whenever it becomes misrepresentative." The basic principle of I&R was espoused by Thomas Jefferson who simply stated “"I know of no safe repository of the ultimate power of society but the people…"

 I urge my fellow citizens to look into I&R. The Initiative and Referendum website, has much information about the process and the results.

Ask candidates in the next legislative contest their position on I&R. If they don’t support it, they don’t trust you. Should you trust them?