Note: This is part of a series. I’ve been writing a lot about Washington’s I-933 lately; here’s what’s happening in the rest of Cascadia.
California: Napa County voters handily defeated Measure A, another cookie-cutter “pay-or-waive” initiative.
Idaho: Proponents just announced that they have enough signatures to put “This House Is My Home” on the ballot in November. A silly ballot title, yes, but the initiative is much better written than, say, Washington’s Initiative 933. Both measures are cookie-cutter “pay-or-waive” laws.
Montana: Initiative 154 still needs more signatures to earn a place on the ballot. Some locals are complaining that I-154 backers are using paid out-of-state contractors to gather the signatures. I-154 is—you guessed it—a cookie-cutter “pay-or-waive” law. [Note to Montana readers: I’m having a heckuva time finding timely coverage of I-154. I’d be grateful for forwards.]
There’s an uncanny similarity between these initiatives. Each of them employs concern about eminent domain to attack laws that may reduce the economic value of property. They’re importantly separate issues, but it can be easy to confuse them.
It’s almost as if each property “rights” initiative is taking the same marching orders. Could there be some national master plan?
Tune in next week to find out…
Dan
‘What’s important too, Eric, is that some paid signature-gatherers in WA (e.g. at FolkLife) are telling folks that I-933 will help fight eminent domain. In WA, Kelo-type actions are unconstitutional, so that’s a load of hooey told to folks just to get their signatures. My understanding is that there aren’t many signature-gatherers out there in WA canvassing, so that may be a good sign…BTW, judging from your ID link, the quality of the property-righters isn’t very impressive, so any halfway good organization and a few sponsors ought to be able to defeat them. [No fair with the teaser!]Regards,