Penny A. Morrell, Area Director South
Concerned Women for America of Maine
To Members of the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee
Regarding LD 1692 “RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine
To Amend the Requirements Governing Direct Initiatives”
February 8, 2010
Concerned Women For America of Maine opposes LD 1692.
We believe that amendments to the Maine Constitution should only be made when absolutely necessary. Adding the responsibility to require that the text of a direct initiative of legislation identify the amount and source of revenue required to implement the initiative and, if applicable, identify the program or programs whose funding must be reduced or eliminated to implement the initiative, onto citizens desiring to petition our government is egregious and unnecessary.
Maine should strive to make petitioning our government as easy as it makes the right to vote. Our government is of the people, by the people and for the people. Therefore, obstacles or obstructions to a citizen form of government should not and must not be considered.
We are living in an age when the mood of the people is to throw out the incumbents. The cry heard over and over again is that our government is not and will not listen to us. The anger of the people has given rise to the Tea Party and the effort to take our government and country back. These bills, if passed, will only fuel that fire.
We urge this committee to reject LD 1692. Thank you.