A worthy State constitutional amendment.

[Wao nahele kane]

Adoption of voter referendums, initiatives and constitutional amendments should be added to the Hawaii State constitution.

[csgray]

I basically agree with you but for some clarification on terms:
Referendums are usually advisory and the legislatures and governments can ignore or drastically alter them.

Ballot measures and initiatives allow citizens an avenue for direct democracy, they can make laws if a majority of voters vote yes.

Constitutional amendments change the actual Constitution of a state or nation, permanently changing the purpose and function of that government.

I like the idea of initiative or ballot measure in principle, but having lived somewhere that made it too easy to get things on the ballot and inadvertentivly created an industry of out of state interests using that state for a test lab for bad ideas, I have some reservations about how such a thing should be set up, but direct law making action by citizens is an excellent last resort for forcing government to change.

Carol

Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb

[Rob L]

Referenda have hamstrung state government in California. It would be a real pity if they came to Hawaii. The majority of the budget has been earmarked by referenda (schools, state parks, etc) so the governor and the legislature can't make the necessary prioritization when tax receipts fall or rise. Single interest groups have hijacked the referendum process and good government is the victim.

Aloha,
Rob L

[missydog1]

Yep, the whole "citizens get stuff in the ballot" process started out as a good idea and then grew to where it clogged the ballot with a lot if stuff it was hard to understand yet it was going to greatly affect life in the State.

In a way I would rather have legislators argue over my fate than leave it to the majority of whom many may vote Yes or No on a whim or understanding the opposite of what the measure really entails.

If the ballot items can be kept to where they are comprehensible to people with a high school education, great. If people can't read them and can't know who to believe is right, then it's worse than leaving it to the legislature IMO.

Kathy

[kalakoa]

Single interest groups have hijacked the referendum process and good government is the victim.

Hawaii has accomplished this without any referendum process. No need for change...

[steve1]

Doesn't Hawaii already have the referendum process in place?

Referendum is the process of gathering signatures to have a public vote to ask the politicians (pretty please)to enact their suggested changes to legislation. It is non-binding and politicians frequently choose to ignore the "suggestions". Remember when marijuana possession was supposed to be the lowest level of enforcement by Hawaii County by a majority vote and the politicians chose to ignore that referendum?

Initiatives are direct political action where a grassroots organization or special interest group (such as privately run jails)can get money diverted away from other programs and into their own pockets through increased incarceration rates, for instance. One example would be the "3 strikes" laws passed in many states and mandatory minimum sentences to keep more people in jail, so the privately run jails make more money.

Feel free to correct me if you have better information.

[Wao nahele kane]

Hawaii's history regarding I&R is outlined here -
http://www.iandrinstitute.org/Hawaii.htm

Here are the meanings of an initiative, referendum and recall. It does not include voter amendments per se but can be included in initiative exercise if adopted as such.
http://senateminority.wordpress.com/issu...um-recall/

[Wao nahele kane]

Here's a .PDF of the most recent Bill. -
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session201...SB771_.htm

Here's its status. -
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/Archives/measure_indiv_Archives.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=771&year=2013

[Midnight Rambler]

You honestly think this is a good idea? Not that I have any trust in our politicians to represent our best interests, but every election we've got constitutional and county charter amendments, and approximately 0% of voters understand what they mean when they vote on them.