The Annual Attack On The "Powers Reserved To The People" Has Begun
The Annual Attack On The "Powers Reserved To The People" Has Begun
SCR 4013 is the latest attempt to attack Article III of the state constitution.
Like the energizer bunny, legislators who are afraid of their own voters never stop trying to weaken the Powers Reserved To The People.
SCR 4013 is the legislature’s latest attack.
It seeks to do three things:
Require circulator live in North Dakota for 120 prior to circulating.
Prohibits all paid circulators.
And tries once again to place a 67% requirement on passage.
Update: I spoke to Tyler Axness on KFGO about this bill this afternoon.
Those who have followed the work of the North Dakota Watchdog Network know that we oppose these efforts.
As former governor Ed Schafer said in 2020 while opposing that year’s Measure 2 to grant the legislature veto-power over constitutional measures:
When I was growing up, our family conversations around the dinner table often ended with, “You always have to trust the people.” This is one of the beliefs that led me to the Governor’s office and my desire to serve the people of North Dakota.
I cut my political teeth on the 1989 tax referrals and gained a healthy respect for this method for our citizens to shape their own government policy.
-Former Governor Ed Schafer
The North Dakota Chamber of Commerce failed to gain ballot access last year to a similar measure, despite spending upwards of a half-million dollars on the effort.
Luckily, North Dakota media has a good track-record of opposing these attacks.
Hopefully that will continue.
I will keep you up to date on this resolution and any others that may come up.
Stay tuned!