HJR 4200: Protecting the people’s right of referendum

The House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee held a public hearing this morning on a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 4200) to require a supermajority vote of the legislature to enact an "emergency clause" on a bill. Bills enacted with an emergency clause take effect immediately and deny the people their right of referendum on those proposals. Striking an appropriate balance, appropriation bills (operating, capital and transportation) would be exempt from the supermajority requirement proposed by HJR 4200 allowing budget bills to take effect immediately and not be subject to referendum. Along with the prime sponsor, Representative Bailey, I was the only one to testify on the proposal. Here is the short video of her testimony and my request that the committee adopt HJR 4200 to protect the people's right of referendum . . . READ MORE