Phoenix AZ- After spending this
legislative session orchestrating systematic attacks on the citizen initiative
process, that was dubbed "Operation
Silence our Citizens," Republicans are digging
in for another battle with Arizona voters.
Since the governor signed
controversial bills that create more obstacles for the citizen initiative
process, Arizonans formed a committee called the Voters
of Arizona.
This group is collecting signatures for a referendum on these laws. Opponents
also filed a lawsuit to prevent HB 2244, a law that will make it easier to get
citizen initiatives thrown out, from going into effect this summer.
That apparently didn't
sit well with some of the Republicans at the Legislature, who are using
taxpayer money to hire a law firm to try to halt the legal
challenge.
An Arizona Republic columnist pointed out
the irony of this maneuver recently:
House Democrats support the
citizen initiative process because it empowers Arizonans to take action when the
Legislature is unresponsive or oppressive. It’s a constitutional right that we
will continue to fight to protect. We'll keep standing with you and against any
attacks on our citizen initiative process.