“The first power hereby reserved by the people is the initiative.” So says Article V, Section 1 of the Colorado Constitution. It is our first and most important legislative power.
Politicians love Referendum O because they can’t stand that the people have that power.
On the other hand, Referendum O does nothing to curb legislators’ ability to push their constitutional changes — four issues (Referendums L, M, N and O) in this election alone.
Backers claim that Referendum O “cleans up” the constitution. They lament that Colorado’s petition (initiative) process is outside their control and cynically fault voters as too busy or uninformed to vote “the right way” on citizen petitions.
Occasionally, they reveal their true contempt for the constitution. The Referendum O House sponsor called our state’s constitution “a roll of toilet paper.” (Hear his scornful words at .)
Referendum O destroys our system of checks and balances — our right to control government. Legislators, slothful media, and special interests are sneaking Referendum O past voters, hoping we won’t rise up to defend this sacred constitutional right.
If Referendum O passes, petitions to reform government will become almost impossible. Thus:
1. The constitution will permit repeal of citizen petitions 60 days after passage.
2. Citizens have three months less to get a greatly increased signature total.
3. Seven new district quotas are created. This means well-heeled special interests will have access to the ballot but grass-roots petitions won’t. In addition, supporters of initiatives such as Amendment 50, which was important to Central City voters but might not have been to those in Cañon City, would find it nearly impossible to get their issue on the ballot.
4. Taxpayer costs to check petition signatures will increase twentyfold.
Legislators justify Referendum O by citing their own “expert” panel that studied the petition process. The panel’s one good idea was rejected. They advised against increasing the number of signatures required for constitutional initiatives. But this is precisely what Referendum O does. So politicians listen to “experts” only when they endorse power-hungry politicians’ original biases against petitions.
Backers cite the size of this year’s state ballot — 10 citizen petitions and four legislature-referred issues. That is about 1 percent of the laws legislators consider over the same two-year period. They say the citizens can’t consider 10 choices one day every other November. They imply voting is inconvenient and freedom is a pain. What backers really want is to take away your right to vote on citizen petitions forever. If Referendum O passes, they will likely get their wish.
They brag Referendum O allows more petitions for ordinary laws on the ballot. But Referendum O lets legislators repeal any such petition two months after voters pass it. Why bother to win an election if back-room politicians can steal your victory while the ballots are still warm?
Politicians hope you won’t see their frauds. If amendments are such a problem, why does Referendum O only limit the people’s constitutional right to propose amendments, while preserving intact the backers’ ability to do so?
Referendum O is all about power. It is a naked attack on our constitutional right to petition and force government to change.
No petition ever changed any law; it only allows citizens the right to vote on what is petitioned.
Referendum O is an amendment to stop amendments. Referendum O cripples to the point of near destruction only the people’s right to force government change. It is permanent and irreversible.
Citizen groups across the political spectrum, from Common Cause to the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, all make the same urgent request: Defend your rights. Save our system of checks and balances.
Vote “no” on Referendum O.
Ralph Shnelvar is a Boulder activist. Guest commentary submissions of up to 650 words may be sent to openforum@denverpost.com.
