Omaha World-Herald
The writer, an Omaha resident, is a veteran of petition drives and lawsuits challenging Nebraska petition laws. He has filed an initiative petition to lower signature thresholds.
When an anniversary passes without notice, it’s unfortunate. When a 100-year anniversary goes unnoticed, it should make us pause.
In 1912, Nebraska voters approved a measure that would allow citizens to place issues on the ballot and repeal laws they didn’t want. Our forefathers felt it was important to “reserve for themselves” these powers of initiative and referendum petitions.
The Libertarian Party of Nebraska is asking a federal judge to block part of the state’s petition law. The party filed a motion Thursday for an injunction to allow out-of-state residents to collect petition signatures. The party also asked to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s petition laws. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in December, claims that parts of Nebraska law place an unconstitutional burden on citizens.
The smoldering question on the May primary ballot in Blair, Neb., will be: to burn or not to burn. For 16 years, the Washington County city has allowed its 8,000 residents to burn yard waste during two-week periods in April and November. Now the City Council has approved a ballot measure to eliminate the burn periods. Voters will have their say May 11. All open burns ”” with the exception of tree limbs, vegetation and nontreated wood ”” were banned by state law in 1980. Under that law, however, local governments may authorize temporary burns.
Two petition drive veterans and a would-be political candidate are challenging Nebraska’s petition laws in court. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, the three claim that the laws will unconstitutionally burden citizens looking to run for office or put initiatives on the ballot. The American Civil Liberties Union’s Voting Rights Project and ACLU Nebraska filed the suit on the trio’s behalf.
The Fremont City Council has voted 5-1 to appeal a judges ruling that an immigration initiative does qualify for the ballot. The measure aims to curtail the hiring and renting of housing to illegal immigrants. The measure had enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, but city leaders claim the city doesn’t have the power to enact the law.