DENVER—A panel of lawmakers has been asked to look at changing the rules for voter-initiated ballot measures as part of a review of the state constitution.
Under current rules for ballot measures, it’s just as easy to amend the constitution as it is pass a state law.
Advocacy groups usually pursue a constitutional amendment because it can’t be changed by the Legislature, but lawmakers complain that prevents them from making changes that may be needed over time.
State Rep. Al White, a member of the new constitutional reform committee, said Tuesday he supports a recommendation from a University of Denver study that would bar lawmakers from changing voter-passed laws for 10 years without a two-thirds vote.
Committee chairman Sen. Abel Tapia said he would also like to consider changing some voter-backed amendments to the constitution—Amendment 23 and the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights—which limit how lawmakers can spend tax dollars.
However, he doesn’t think the Legislature has time this year to persuade voters, who would have the final say.
TABOR author Doug Bruce, now a state representative from Colorado Springs, watched as the committee met for the first time Tuesday. When Tapia invited him to speak, Bruce said he favored making it easier for people to get statutory changes on the ballot but not making it harder to pass constitutional amendments.
He also said he is suspicious of those who talked of clearing up “clutter” in the constitution.
“I usually find that is a euphemism for getting rid of the TABOR amendment,” Bruce said.
