Status Quo Defenders attack
new voter-initiative bill

Despite assurances from H. Philip West, of Common Cause, that this year's bill has more safeguards, some legislators and citizens contend it could undermine the civil rights of vulnerable groups.

(Providence, RI, 03/17/99) Voter initiative had its annual hearing at the State House last night amid allegations that it would jeopardize civil rights, foster racism and produce what AFL-CIO lobbyist George Nee called "mercenary Democracy" where he who has the most money has the best shot at shaping Rhode Island laws.

Rep. Roger Picard, D-Woonsocket, told the House Judiciary Committee that the main reason he has persisted in introducing the bill year after year has been to "force the governor and the legislature to deal with issues that may not have been dealt with in the past."

Giving voters the opportunity to enact laws on their own at the ballot box would "bypass legislative gridlock" on thorny issues and bring balance to a state with "one dominant political party," added Michael J. Rollins, state chairman of the Libertarian Party.

But the criticism was barbed, despite assurances by H. Philip West, director of the citizens advocacy group Common Cause, and others that this year's voter initiative package has more safeguards than ever.

"Most of the people I have seen sitting in that seat don't have to worry about their civil rights. I find it kind of offensive," said Rep. Marsha Carpenter, who is black, to League of Women Voters lobbyist Greta Abbott, who is white, after Abbott took the witness chair to speak in favor of the bill.

"I am really more frightened of this than ever before," said Gene L. Booth, of the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights, "because I know it's very easy to get things on the ballot framed in such a way that they look good to everyone."

"What really frightens me," added Donna Fishman, co-chair of the Rhode Island Coalition for Affirmative Action, "is that special private interest groups with money behind their causes and private agendas, can package (a) campaign, with sound bites, slogans and language to promote their special interests."

West tried to assure the lawmakers that this year's two-bill package reflects "careful listening" to the concerns raised in past years that voter initiative can be used to undermine civil liberties of gays, minorities and other potentially vulnerable groups.

One new provision would give the General Assembly first shot at enacting an initiative petition into the law before it went on the ballot. Another says: "No initiative shall be permitted which shall abridge the civil rights or liberties . . . of any individual or group of individuals." And a third would give anyone who felt threatened by an initiative petition to seek relief or a restraining order from the Superior Court.

But these assurances did not douse the criticism. "Am I going to have to pay to prove my rights are being denied?" Carpenter said. "Why put our rights in peril?" said Rep. David Cicilline, D-Providence.

(Copyright 1999 Providence Journal)

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