Activists need help from the opposition - Direct democracy initiative sought

HARTFORD - Advocates of direct democracy in Connecticut cannot succeed politically without help from the very politicians they say are ignoring the people's will.

At this time, voters in the Constitution State have no direct constitutional means to put questions and measures on a statewide ballot for an up-or-down vote.

Supporters of initiative and referendum here are now encouraging people to vote on Election Day to call a convention to change the state constitution as a necessary first step to gaining that authority.

If the effort succeeds, however, the state legislature will be responsible for choosing the delegates and scheduling the convention. These are the same lawmakers who supposedly aren't listening to the groups behind the push.

There are no guarantees that direct democracy advocates will be appointed as delegates, or, more significantly, that the convention will even propose an amendment on initiative and referendum.

If a convention is approved, the legislature will look bad politically if advocates of initiative and referendum are snubbed, said Matthew Daly, chairman of the Connecticut Constitution Convention Campaign.

"If we win the 'yes' vote, everybody in the state and those who are paying attention across the country will know that the 'yes' vote won the day because of our campaign," he said.

What might or might not happen is all speculation at this point, but where legislative leaders stand on the issue of direct democracy is known.

House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, and Senate President Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, aren't supporters of initiative and referendum. If re-elected, Donovan is poised to become the next House speaker, and Williams is likely to return as the Senate's top Democrat. Both leaders will have much say in deciding how delegates to a constitutional convention are selected and a convention's timetable.

As a small state, Donovan said he doesn't believe Connecticut needs initiative and referendum.

"I think in our state the legislators are close to the people in their districts and talk to more people in their districts," he said.

Williams is worried that unlimited initiative and referendum would undermine the recently enacted campaign finance reforms in Connecticut. Public financing is available to qualified candidates for General Assembly for the first time this campaign season.

"The new laws encourage more competition in legislative races and establish that good ideas, not money, will be the currency that gets people elected," said Derek Slap, a spokesman for Williams.

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, favors initiative and referendum, and he wants voters to approve a constitutional convention Nov. 4.

"There are a number of us who support it. I would like to see us have a debate about it at a constitutional convention. I think it would be good for our state to have that discussion," McKinney said.

He also said he believes advocates of direct democracy should be represented in a convention.

Constitution history

State voters are asked every 20 years whether the state constitution should be amended. If a majority say yes, the legislature must convene a convention. The requirement was added to the state constitution in 1965.

Voters rejected a convention the last time the question appeared on the ballot by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.

Daly said his group is planning a campaign to educate voters on the ballot question, including petition drives, lawn signs and advertising. However, fundraising has been slow.

The Connecticut Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, contributed $40,000 to a political action committee that is campaigning against a constitutional convention. Planned Parenthood of Connecticut contributed $5,000 to the group, Vote No: Protect Our Constitution.

In contrast, Daly's group raised only $1,110 through June 30. "If we win the campaign, we'll win it being outspent 5-to-1," Daly said.

The Connecticut AFL-CIO is also opposed to a constitutional convention and initiative and referendum. The union is concerned that ballot initiatives could lead to bad laws, costly media campaigns and out-of-state interests spending huge sums to influence elections here.

The Connecticut Education Association didn't provide any representatives Monday to explain the union's position and its $40,000 contribution.

Planned Parenthood of Connecticut is concerned that groups behind push for a constitutional convention and direct democracy want to restrict reproductive rights, including abortions.

"We don't take it lightly," said Susan Yolen, the organization's vice president of public affairs.

There have been only three constitutional conventions in state history.

The legislature called the first convention in 1818 to write a constitution to replace the Fundamental Orders of 1639, Connecticut's former colonial charter. Another convention met in 1902 to discuss legislative redistricting, but the proposal was rejected. The 1965 convention finally passed a reapportionment plan in response to a federal court ruling, and it also fine-tuned the constitution of 1818.

To date, the state constitution has been amended 30 times. The last time was eight years ago..

« Back to In the Press