AZ: Resolution would make passing constitutional amendments more difficult

[RandySF]

A GOP lawmaker wants voters to amend the Arizona Constitution to make it harder for voters in the Grand Canyon State to ever amend the Constitution again, an idea that critics say would erode Arizonans’ rights to direct democracy.

The resolution would ask voters to increase the approval rate needed to pass constitutional amendments to 60%, up from a simple majority.

“Too many times we’ve all seen our constitution changed, sometimes good, mainly for the bad and I would like to see that changed,” Sen. Anthony Kern, who introduced the resolution, told the Senate Elections Committee on Monday.

Kern said he chose a 60% threshold after voters approved an amendment in the last election requiring 60% voter approval for initiatives that would raise taxes.

He added that a motivating factor in this resolution was all the so-called “dark money” that Kern said is coming from California for campaigns to change the Arizona Constitution, but he didn’t mention any specific campaigns or amendments. Ballot measure campaigns must report where their money comes from, but they are allowed to accept unlimited amounts of money from contributors — including corporations.

Hugo Polanco, a lobbyist for progressive activist group Living United for Change in Arizona, said lawmakers should reject efforts to make it more difficult for voters to pass measures at the ballot box.



https://www.azmirror.com/2023/01/25/resolution-would-make-passing-constitutional-amendments-more-difficult/