OLYMPIA – The initiative process provides voters an alternative to the state legislature for passing a new law. It’s a process that state Rep. Fred Finn believes is vital to the checks and balances of our democracy. But it can also lead to unfunded mandates that exacerbate budget shortfalls and wreak havoc on state and local governments’ ability to plan responsibly for the future.
That’s why Finn is sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would require any initiative filed with the Secretary of State’s office to identify a funding source if the initiative would cost the state or local governments an excess of five million dollars.
“Unfunded mandates aren’t fiscally responsible, whether it’s government or the people who are promoting them,” Finn said. “My proposal is basically saying, ‘If it’s going to cost a significant amount of money, you need to show how it’s going to be paid for’.”
House Joint Resolution 4224 has attracted bipartisan support. It was filed today, the third day of the 2012 regular legislative session.
Finn points out that just three initiatives passed by the voters would, if implemented, cost taxpayers over $1.2 billion in the current budget cycle. These include I-732 (class size reduction), I-728 (cost-of-living increases for teachers) and I-1163 (increased training requirements for long-term care workers). The Legislature temporarily suspended I-732 and I-728 last year.
The state is facing a budget shortfall of approximately $1.5 billion, which lawmakers have to close during the current legislative session. A special session in December resulted in cuts of nearly $500 million.
“People want government to live within its means, but then pass initiatives that cost millions, sometimes billions, of dollars to implement,” Finn said. “Our state, unlike the federal government, can’t just print money. The funds have to come from somewhere, and this measure makes it clear how we’re going to pay for things.”