Thursday, March 11, 2010
Petition signature rules upheld
The Omaha World-Herald: Nebraska lawmakers deep-sixed a proposal Thursday that would have lowered the number of petition signatures to put measures on the ballot. Legislative Resolution 300CA garnered only 7 votes in favor and 12 in opposition. State Sen. John Nelson of Omaha, who introduced the measure, said he was not surprised at the outcome but thought the vote would have been closer. He said he believed the measure would have advanced if senators had approved the committee amendment. That amendment fell two votes short.
Nelson’s original resolution would have cut in half the number of signatures needed to put proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot – from 10 percent of registered voters to 5 percent. It also would have reduced from 7 percent of registered voters to 3 percent the number of signatures needed to get proposed laws on the ballot. Nelson argued that the change would put the petition process back within reach of ordinary Nebraskans, especially those without deep pockets to pay petition circulators. "I don’t know what we have to fear," he said. "In my mind, it’s better to put issues on the ballot and get people to vote."
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