Comments on: Jones Offers “Power To The People”

By: Boise Model

Boise Model — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 19:29:17 +0000

Seems like it was less than 2 months ago the Governor was asking for help from citizens to contact their representatives and voice their dislike for a proposed new law.

He returns the favor by signing SB 1110. Taking power away from the same people he just asked to help him.

By: Easterner

Easterner — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:12:29 +0000

Weak. Lack of leadership.
Gov Little says, “Whether Senate Bill 1110 amounts to an impermissible restriction in violation of our Constitution is highly fact-dependent and, ultimately, a question for the Idaho judiciary to decide,”
.
“I also expect the federal courts may be called to determine whether Senate Bill 1110 violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”

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So knowing it will go to the courts to decide, he simply punts instead of providing leadership to ‘his’ political party.
Due in fact, he is not leading a party at all. A group that is split and being occupied by so many Teabaggers.
As stated above, by a formidable and respected Idaho Justice- it is bad policy. And just like the same-sex legislation, Idaho will now spend too much tax money trying to defend EXTREMIST opinions. https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/idahos-constitutional-defense-fund-backstop-shaky-legislation#stream/0
3.1 Millions Idaho tax dollars so far. In the toilet. Sad for Idaho politics.
Moderate, reasonable Republicans should remember this in the next general election.

Jim Jones:
Former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Former Idaho A.G.
Republican.
JD from Northwestern.
Vietnam Army Officer.
Several Idaho Republican offices.
.
It doesn’t get much more Republican. Would be a trusted advisor to any Idaho politician.

By: Jo Jo

Jo Jo — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 17:02:18 +0000

So, Jones helped point out how important keeping the initiative process reasonable was, only to have Little (how appropriately named on this issue) willing to use the veto in an attempt to preserve his own (read: Executive) power, while leave the citizens of this state to twist in the wind. Apparently when he licked his finger and held it up to determine which way the wind was blowing, he caught the crazy blowing out of the Legislature. I don’t think he realizes that none of this is going to keep him from getting primary’d by McGeachin (and likely losing to that pandering nutcake) in 2022. Sure do wish he would have found some backbone through COVID and this particular legislative session.

By: Eagle Writer

Eagle Writer — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 15:36:25 +0000

Let’s see, the Statesman doesn’t like it, the ACLU doesn’t like it. Nor does (presumably) BLM, Antifa, ISIS, Putin or the CCP. Why? Because this law distributes power to the people all across the state. The aforementioned want the metro-elites to rule based upon out-of-state well-funded Leftist signature gatherers.
My legislative district (14) supports it, as does our delegation. This is simply a good law for good self government.

By: Caeth

Caeth — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 16:54:11 +0000

Not so “Crazy Ideas” but, Russia!, Russia!, Russia! China!, China!, China! It is impossible to get consensus on voter ID. How do you expect to satisfactorily verify internet security?

By: Crazy Ideas

Crazy Ideas — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 03:04:40 +0000

I find it ironic I finally got my Obama money from Trump. I’m looking for the life jackets and boats now that we have a guy clearly running on vapors at the helm and his VP is an angry radical. When was the last time we had a competent trustworthy president? Or mayor?

What you all are complaining about is high levels of corruption in our boated governments. It’s cleverly disguised as necessary policy and expenditures. In Idaho they take office and immediately push a personal agenda without even trying to hide it. The concept of representative government is lost and no longer taught to youth.

Idea! Keep the State and Federal Senate bodies in force as they are (for now) but replace the House bodies with a more direct interaction from the voter. Computers control and give access to the entire world. I can book a flight, buy a car, go to school on a computer. I see no need to have this bunch of political swindlers making decisions for me. The House bodies should be the first to go, however some of you might improve this idea with further input.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:13:06 +0000

We the People! They’re ALL elected public servants we are talking about. THEY’RE ELECTED BY WE THE PEOPLE.
After taking a PAID TWO WEEK LEAVE due to a covid outbreak MOST weren’t concerned enough to protect their fellow Idahoan,in the State house of the people? With the outcry from their constituents for property TAX relief they can’t find the time to resolve! BUT,our elected public servants spent Idahoans time to listen to Oregonians sell Idaho having oceanfront real estate?
No one should be surprised but WE THE PEOPLE should be disgusted?

By: Easterner

Easterner — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:45:17 +0000

funkhobo et al, you have a contradiction–
You imply requiring a supermajority (because a simple majority of the voters is somehow wrong?), prevents the possibility of a MINORITY of voters being able to make law. That’s wrong.
A minority of the voters might be able to get an initiative on the ballot, with a lot of work; but they will NOT be able to make it law- unless of course no one else cares enough to vote on the ballot measure.
Your reference of potheads- forgoes all the people in favor of initiatives for Term Limits (a 1996 Wyoming case is exactly on your point), Medicaid Expansion, and a long list of other initiatives. There is MUCH more than legal weed at stake here.

Your stated idea of ‘super majority as other states’ is questionable.
So if 3 other states so something, that is sufficient for Idaho to follow along?
Google, says, only FIVE states offer what you mention- for statutory change.
Hobo, by your standard, (super%) it only makes sense if 33 states do it. Five doesn’t cut it. Ha!
FIGHT AGAINST THEIR POWER HOBO!
.
Put it on the ballot. Let’s decide.

What is most interesting is how the ‘initiative’ process is varied from state to state.

By: Boise Lawyer

Boise Lawyer — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:05:34 +0000

I’m with FunkHobo69. Idaho’s present problem is that the Legislature is so crazy and incompetent that the people are actually better off leading themselves. It will not necessarily be that way forever and too low a hurdle for initiatives could become just another path for crazy legislation. California’s ballot proposition process is a good example of this.

The source of the present mess is the closed republican primary and a lot of our problems would go away if we could abolish it.

By: Jo Jo

Jo Jo — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 01:13:16 +0000

The irony here is just too rich! Not only is the Legislature trying to take power away from the Executive, but now they’ve come for the people, too. Who’s left? If I was a judge, I’d be wondering just exactly how I’d be kept from doing my constitutional duty.

Some facts:
* Signing a petition shouldn’t mean you automatically agree with the cause–but most people won’t sign a petition for a cause they don’t agree with.
* The Legislature has themselves all in a snit about Medicare, obviously. Keep in mind the rules around initiatives were tightened after the people booted the Luna laws, and the term limits initiative was summarily executed at dawn by the Legislature, despite passing.

Oh, and Concerned Neighbor: none of the legislators from my district support this bill. Does that mean I’m being disenfranchised? It sure feels like it.

Why is it I’m pretty sure that if the shoe was on the other foot (Democrats ran the state) that Republicans would be screaming if there was an attempt to limit initiatives? Seems it only matters whose ox is being gored 🙁

Can’t speak for others, but I personally find it very offensive that Vick, Moyle, and the rest of them seem to think they are smarter than the rest of the citizens of Idaho.