Ballot Measure 1 weakens power of average citizens

Posted: Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Ballot Measure 1 proposes to amend our State Constitution in order to increase the costs and organizational challenges of gathering signatures for citizen ballot measures. Ballot Measure 1 is aimed to weaken the single remaining effective tool the unelected average citizen has to make laws when their elected officials fail to listen or fail to act.

Ballot Measure 1 significantly raises the costs for citizens to petition their government while it strengthens the power of well monied "special interests" to put initiatives on the ballot. This initiative is an attempt to abridge our constitutionally guaranteed right to petition our government. As chief sponsor of the 2002 all-Alaskan Gas Line ballot initiative, I am asking you to vote "no" against Ballot Measure 1 this year. We don't need one more obstacle in order to usurp the will of the people.