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Monday, March 11, 2013

Maryland Bill Would Make It Harder To Challenge Laws By Referendum

It would be more difficult for Marylanders to challenge laws through voter referendums under a constitutional amendment being considered by the Maryland Senate.

Maryland is one of 27 states that allow voters to overturn laws by gathering signatures to put them on a ballot in a process known as a referendum. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr., D-Montgomery County, would require petitioners to gather more signatures to put a law up for referendum.

Madaleno did not respond to a call for comment, but legislative leaders have said the referendum process has to be looked at because it might be too easy to put laws on the ballot. That came after voters petitioned three laws to referendum in 2012, after 20 years with none.

Maryland good-government groups aren't happy with the proposed requirements.

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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Clearly he wants to block a future referendum on the gum ban.

Anonymous said...

hahah I told ya... all I am saying is I told you so...

NOW they want it HARDER for you to over turn their LAWS... and you call me a conspiracy theorist... Does this look like a conspiracy? also if you can see it and know whats happening then its not a conspiracy...

Anonymous said...

How ironic that one of Laura Mitchell's cronies in the Democratic Party is leading the cause. Maybe she will lead a petition drive against him.

Anonymous said...

Talk about God-like omnipotence, these folks take it upon themselves to enact laws the people they represent are opposed to then get all upset when their constituency wants to undo them. Now they want to take their disrespect for the citizens one more step. They have no shame of their arrogance.

Anonymous said...

Us conservatives are by far the minority in this state by 2to1 so when they want to pass junk like this,they will.

lmclain said...

R E V O L U T I O N. They are no longer representatives. They are rulers and don't wnat their edicts challenged by the serfs. When they saw 40-1 opposition against the guns laws, this is the first thing they thought of....

ginn said...

"...legislative leaders have said... it might be too easy to put laws on the ballot."
When our government representatives begin to work against us, it is a sure sign that government is broken and must be changed. I don't think the voting system we have now is the way either, geographically unworkable, I believe. It has already been stated by the media that America's rural areas don't count as much any longer.
Perhaps we need to be the 150 states of the United States of America or even separate countries. I see smaller jurisdictions, smaller states, common community or vocational regions and city states with their own governments and laws as a possible last step to saving America and preserving democracy.

Anonymous said...

Most taxpayers with common sense are sick of being bullied by Maryland legislatures, and this moves just proves the legislature wants their way and not give the voters their right to reject some of these laws they ram down our throats.