Vote as if it will really count

Letter to the editor, Missoulian, 9/28/06

Many people whom I have talked to recently think that the courts have “taken care of” Constitutional Initiative 97, the dangerous and unnecessary budget cap initiative.

That is not the case. This initiative and the others supported by big out-of-state money, CI-98 and Initiative 154 are still on the ballot. Until the Supreme Court rules, we will not know whether the votes will be counted. Urge everyone you know to vote as if it will count.

It is very important that everyone educate themselves about these very dangerous initiatives.

CI-97 would shrink state government every year and threaten basic services such as health care, schools, police, firefighters and roads hurting Montana families, children and seniors. Local property taxes and fees would have to be raised. Twenty-two states have rejected measures like CI-97 and Colorado, the only state that ever tried it, has voted to suspend their version because it has caused so many problems for the state.

CI-98 allows for the recall of judges for ANY reason. Current law provides for the recall of public officials, including judges, for cause and elections for general voter displeasure. This initiative would allow judges to be recalled before the end of their term for the decisions they make. This would require judges to pay as much or more attention to the polls of public opinion as to the law in making their decisions. Certainly this initiative can be used to harass and intimidate sitting judges.

I-154 is a raw deal for Montana taxpayers, written by special interests for special interests. It would create big expensive loopholes in Montana law where irresponsible developers and speculators could demand huge payouts from taxpayers for alleged losses to their property values. While described as reforming “eminent domain,” I-154 would handcuff communities and neighborhoods by taking away their traditional safeguards against irresponsible development.

Jean Abel, Polson