Connecticut
If Connecticut had state-wide initiative & referendum rights, citizens could hold accountable a government that promised not to raise the state’s tax level above a certain percentage.
Citizens in Charge Foundation President Paul Jacob, recently wrote one of his daily Common Sense columns about Connecticut’s tax troubles and the affect they can have on a state:
Connecticut used to be one of the go-to places for escaping state income taxes.
Active supporters of allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages in town ”” other than in restaurants ”” are poised to raise a toast and cheer. The citizens group Wilton for Wine, which advocates permitting package stores here, reports that it believes it has gathered more than enough signatures to place the question on the ballot at this fall’s town election. “We’ve been overwhelmed with how positive the response has been,” said Barbara Bangser, a member of the group, referring to the petition process that has been under way this summer.
Supporters of an effort to put the town’s $139 million school budget to a referendum failed to gain enough signatures. Supporters gained 1,225 of the 1,833 signatures needed to trigger a referendum.
A coalition of same-sex marriage opponents and taxpayer groups is trying to persuade voters to approve a state constitutional convention in the hopes of bringing the initiative petition process to Connecticut.
Mayor Melody A. Currey released a budget proposal Thursday that would cut spending by $5.3 million, against the backdrop of what she called “the worst economy since the Great Depression.”
The proposed 2009-10 budget of about $151.4 million also would not raise taxes, keeping the tax rate at 31.67 mills.
Direct democracy advocates in the Progressive era failed to win
initiative and referendum rights at either the state or local levels, except in
the city of Bristol. However, citizens in many of the state’s small towns still
enjoy the right to enact ordinances by popular vote in their town
meetings.
Excerpted from the Initiative & Referendum Almanac by M. Dane Waters.
Article Third: Sec. 1.
The legislative power of the state shall be vested in two distinct houses or
branches; the one to be styled the senate, the other the house of
representatives, and both together the general assembly. The style of their
laws shall be: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
in General Assembly convened.
Connecticut citizens currently have no statewide Initiative & Referendum rights.
The following groups are currently working toward expanding initiative and referendum rights in Connecticut:
Connecticut Citizens for Ballot Initiative
Poll:
See the results of a poll on support for statewide initiative & referendum here.
If a group called Coalition for Public Referendum is successful, Nacogdoches voters could soon have a greater voice in the legislative decisions of the city. The group is collecting signatures to place an item on the ballot in May’s city election that would amend the city charter to provide for initiative, referendum and recall measures.
The controversial statewide effort to hold the state’s first Constitutional Convention since 1965 got a boost on Friday when Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she favors the November-ballot issue.
She said it would be a good way to create a new initiative-and-referendum law to allow voters to use the ballot box to change government and force votes on new laws, as is done in states like California.
The anti-abortion Family Institute of Connecticut Action said Friday that Rell’s endorsement is good news in the weeks before Connecticut voters see the ballot question on Nov. 4.
Tens of thousands of dollars is being raised in an effort to persuade Connecticut voters to reject a proposal on the November ballot to reopen the state constitution.
The state’s largest teachers union, the Connecticut Education Association, has contributed $40,000 to the group “Vote No: Protect Our Constitution.” Planned Parenthood of Connecticut has given $5,000 to the same cause, according to filings with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.
Should Connecticut citizens have the right to petition issues onto a ballot for a statewide vote? That’s the question that will be asked if voters approve a referendum question in November calling for a constitutional convention.
Connecticut’s form of government should be changed to allow direct referendum and initiative similar to California, according to a new group that’s pushing for the first constitutional convention since 1965.
The Constitution Convention Campaign, during a news conference Thursday attended by several members of the General Assembly, wants Connecticut to vote “yes” this fall to the statewide ballot question “Shall the state Constitution be revised or amended?”