Citizens in Charge

This weekend Paul Jacob spoke at the National Taxpayer Union’s National Taxpayers Conference about the power of the initiative and referendum (I&R) process.

Paul’s main comments focused on how regular grassroots activists can set the agenda and gain momentum on their issues by using I&R. He also makes the point that I&R has been a taxpayer’s best friend, as ballot measures have helped control government spending.

Watch a clip of Paul’s speech:

Here are some interesting comments about I&R:

“As Initiative and Referendum enters its second century of use in the United States, citizens should embrace and nurture this invaluable process. It has transformed the ‘Tax Revolt’ from a passing fancy to a permanent fixture in American politics.”
— Pete Sepp, National Taxpayers Union Vice President for Policy and Communications

“The evidence shows that initiatives have been more effective than state legislatures at limiting the growth of state and local government spending.”
— Michael New in “Limiting Government Through Direct Democracy”

“Although severely handicapped, tax activists in non-initiative states can pressure their legislators to come up with a sound, well-designed TEL [Tax and Expenditure Limitation], in addition to pressing for a constitutional change granting citizens the right to put initiatives and referendums on the ballot.”
— Dean Stansel, fiscal policy analyst at the Cato Institute in “Taming Leviathan”