Alliance for a Better Utah Opposes SJR 2 & SB 73
Salt Lake City, UT – Yesterday afternoon, the Utah House of Representatives passed two bills that threaten the ability for citizens to reform their government through ballot initiatives: SB 73 & SJR 2.
Chase Thomas, Senior Policy Advisor for Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement:
“Nobody is asking for this. Utahns overwhelmingly support the ballot initiative process the way that it is. These bills are unnecessary and create unnecessary hurdles to this essential democratic process.
“SJR 2 would effectively end majority rule, undermining the power of the people to make decisions about their own government by giving a minority of voters the power. SB 73 requires those running citizen-led ballot initiatives to identify funding sources for their initiatives; something lawmakers do with a team of state-paid experts.
“Lawmakers already have the power to edit ballot initiatives within reason, and initiatives already have a delayed effective date until after the legislative session following the election at which they are approved. The legislature has ample time to deal with the financial repercussions of a law that has been approved by their constituents.”
SB 73 passed 50-19-6 and SJR 2 passed 55-17-3.
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Alliance for a Better Utah is a nonprofit that holds politicians accountable and advocates for progressive policies that make Utah an even better place. The organization improves the lives of all Utahns through advocacy, transparency, and accountability in Utah politics, policy, and government. More information at www.betterutah.org.
