The two dominant political parties in Augusta finally have something they agree on — limiting the rights of voters.
A bill by Sen. Eric Brakey, supported by local Sens. Nate Libby and Garrett Mason, will change the citizen referendum process to limit voter rights. Sen. Brakey has said “the constitutional rights of Maine people should never be subject to a majority rule process.”
Who does he believe should control that process?
If these legislators want to stop outside influence on the referendum process, they could vote to increase the number of petition signatures from each county to get a question on the ballot. But their solution is to give themselves the power to ask the courts to prevent questions from going to the voters.
Instead of trying to attract independent voters, who represent the largest percentage of the Maine electorate, this proposal does just the opposite.
If legislators had the political will to act on issues such as tax policy, open primaries and sensible background checks for gun ownership, it might eliminate the proliferation of citizen initiatives.
Christine Gianopoulos, Greene
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