From a Political Junkie: R-71: Citizen votes or citizen legislation?

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Mon, May 03, 2010, 6:36 am  //  Riley Sweeney

 

            Right now, Washington State has come to the forefront of legal discussions because of the R-71 signature case, which is now being argued in front of the Supreme Court. Don’t go away, this gets interesting, I promise.
 
            Referendum 71 was on the ballot last year; it was placed there by anti-gay activists who wanted to remove our civil union laws. They did this through the referendum process. They gathered signatures and put the issue up for a vote. Washington voted 53% to make our civil unions the legal equivalent of marriage. For the first time in the history of the United States, gay rights were expanded through a vote of the public. For the gay community, after being bludgeoned in California with Prop 8, this was welcome relief.
 
            During this time, the gay rights proponents (the “Yes on Ref. 71” folks) wanted to know who signed the referendum to strip them of their rights. There were numerous talks about organizing boycotts of businesses owned by those who signed the referendum. This tactic was used, to great effect, on pharmacies that refused to dispense the birth control prescription, Plan B, for religious reasons. It is fine to make a statement about your values, (“I don’t believe in gay marriage.”) But when it comes to interfering with other people’s beliefs, (“I don’t want YOU to get gay marriage.”) then things get ugly. The gay community wanted to know who put this referendum on the ballot so they could make decisions about who to support with their business.
 
                Naturally, the anti-gay activists went to court to keep this information secret. They said they were nervous about retaliation. The lead writer of the Referendum 71 told stories of having his three children sleep in the living room for fear someone was going to chuck a brick through their window.
 
The court case made its way to the Supreme Court. At each stage, the judge placed a hold on the list of names so that, to this day, they still have not been released to the public. Now it has been debated in the highest court in the land.
           
                The crux of the issue has to do with our referendum/initiative process. Is this process about being a citizen legislator, or is it more akin to placing a vote that something should be on the ballot? When an elected legislator writes or supports legislation, they have to sign their name to it. However when you vote, your position remains secret. This basic sort of constitutional argument is exactly the reason we have a Supreme Court.
            
                Right now, it looks like the court is leaning in favor of releasing the names. Even conservative Justice Antonin Scalia said, "Democracy requires a certain amount of civic courage." If you are participating in the public process by drafting legislation, then you must accept that other people know about it.
 
Does the subject matter of the referendum or initiative make any difference? If this case was about an 'Impeach Bush' initiative, would the same people be arguing for releasing the names and sunshine laws? I find it ironic that the central figures pushing to release the names are two Republicans: Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed. It gives me hope to see that they are able to set aside politics and argue a basic constitutional argument, with little regard to the political content. That’s how it should be.
 
This does little to allay the concerns of retaliation. But I see that as a criminal matter. If someone is calling and harassing you, report them to the police. If someone is refusing to buy groceries from your store because they don’t like your politics, that’s perfectly fair. 
 
We shall see what their final ruling is and how that affects our state in the coming months. But for now, it is an interesting matter to discuss. I welcome your thoughts.

Will Lake Whatcom Watershed Reconveyance Be Approved?

Mon, May 21, 2012, 3:14 pm  //  Wendy Harris

After years of debate, the County Council may be requesting that DNR approve the Reconveyance

0 comments

Last chance, file for PCO

Fri, May 18, 2012, 11:27 am  //  Riley Sweeney

A short plea for public involvement from Riley

0 comments

Healthy, energy-efficient building practices

DRONES!

Thu, May 17, 2012, 10:43 am  //  Tip Johnson

Footage overlooking the Fairhaven area

4 comments; last on May 21, 2012

Cascadia Weekly again on target with the Port

Wed, May 16, 2012, 4:15 pm  //  John Servais

In today's Cascadia Weekly, Tim Johnson analyses the Port Commissioner meeting and the shenanigans of Walker and Chmelik.

0 comments

City Staff Lacks Impartiality On Dock Closure

Tue, May 15, 2012, 7:32 pm  //  Wendy Harris

A City staff memo on the Bloedel dock closure reads more like an advocacy brief

0 comments

Port Commission Expansion to be on November Ballot

Mon, May 14, 2012, 6:07 pm  //  John Servais

Port Commissioners McAuley and Jorgensen voted to put on November ballot the question of expanding commission from 3 to 5 members.

5 comments; last on May 15, 2012

Cascadia Weekly Rips Port - Urges 5

Wed, May 09, 2012, 6:11 am  //  John Servais

Today's Cascadia Weekly rips the Port staff on changed waterfront plans and sees 5 commissioners as possible solution to poor decision making.

2 comments; last on May 10, 2012

R.G. Haley Site: Will Funding Come With a Side of Dioxin?

Mon, May 07, 2012, 11:22 am  //  Wendy Harris

Dioxin contaminated sediment dredged from Squalicum Harbor, dumped at the Cornwall Landfill, may be spread across the R.G. Haley site.

0 comments

Port and City Provide The Truth But Not the Whole Truth

Sat, May 05, 2012, 12:13 am  //  Wendy Harris

Treaty Rights and Public Rights Ignored During Joint Port/City Meeting on Status of Waterfront Redevelopment

1 comments; last on May 07, 2012

Port 5 - Hour of Audio Information

Thu, May 03, 2012, 9:23 pm  //  John Servais

The Joe Show had John Servais on the air for a full hour on Thursday - and we link to the pod cast.

3 comments; last on May 05, 2012

New Facebook Page for Port Reform

Tue, May 01, 2012, 10:24 am  //  John Servais

Bellingham Port Reform has a Facebook page, courtesy of Tip Johnson.

1 comments; last on May 02, 2012

Port Loses New Boat Builder Tenant

Tue, May 01, 2012, 9:34 am  //  John Servais

Port of Bellingham signed lease a month ago to hoopla and now the boat builder is exiting for Anacortes.

11 comments; last on May 08, 2012

Speakers to address Port on Tuesday

Mon, Apr 30, 2012, 10:54 pm  //  John Servais

Several people will be urging the Port of Bellingham commissioners to place the question of expanding to 5 commissioners on the ballot.

0 comments

5 Port Commissioners Initiative Now Circulating

Sat, Apr 28, 2012, 10:09 am  //  John Servais

A county wide initiative will allow voters to decide whether to expand the Port of Bellingham commission from 3 to 5 commissioners.

1 comments; last on Apr 28, 2012

Ron Paul Delegates Railroaded at Whatcom GOP Convention

Tue, Apr 24, 2012, 12:07 pm  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley attended the Whatcom GOP Convention and reports back

1 comments; last on Apr 29, 2012

Charlie Sheldon has Herald Op-Ed

Tue, Apr 24, 2012, 9:25 am  //  John Servais

Today's Bellingham Herald carries an article from Sheldon, with facts, falsehoods and his perspective on his forced resignation as Executive Director of the Port of Bellingham.

0 comments

The Road to Nowhere Can Go Forward

Tue, Apr 24, 2012, 1:02 am  //  Guest writer

Developers are gaming the system with help from the county government - and big changes are made in multiple small changes.

1 comments; last on Apr 27, 2012

Earth Day Alert:  Rocket Donuts to throw Fairhaven trees in the Deepfry

Sun, Apr 22, 2012, 7:28 pm  //  Tip Johnson

Will donuts prove more important than street trees?

10 comments; last on May 02, 2012

Video of port commissioners is posted

Wed, Apr 18, 2012, 12:28 pm  //  John Servais

A 26 minute video of the port commissioners explaining their positions on the firing of executive director Charlie Sheldon is posted.

7 comments; last on Apr 19, 2012

Port Meeting Today, Tuesday, at 3 p.m.

Tue, Apr 17, 2012, 12:51 pm  //  John Servais

At 3 p.m. today - Tuesday, April 17 - the Port of Bellingham meets. Let's attend and support rehiring Charlie Sheldon.

3 comments; last on Apr 18, 2012

100 years ago, at 5:38 p.m. today Bellingham time

Sat, Apr 14, 2012, 4:09 pm  //  John Servais

The Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 p.m. This post is non political - unless you want to draw a parallel with recent Port of Bellingham events.

0 comments

Jim Jorgensen May Reverse His Vote

Fri, Apr 13, 2012, 5:47 pm  //  John Servais

Friday update: Herald reports Jim Jorgensen could change his mind on firing of Port of Bellingham Executive Director Charlie Sheldon

3 comments; last on Apr 17, 2012

Two Port Commissioners Held Illegal Meeting

Tue, Apr 10, 2012, 8:52 pm  //  John Servais

An illegal serial Port Commission meeting should be investigated by the State Auditor, and two commissioners should be made accountable for their actions.

5 comments; last on Apr 11, 2012

A Time for Port Reform

Sun, Apr 08, 2012, 11:33 am  //  Tip Johnson

Wherein the shenanigans start smelling too fishy to tolerate

1 comments; last on Apr 11, 2012

Padden Trails.  It Is Not About Infill; It Is About Profits

Sat, Apr 07, 2012, 2:05 pm  //  Dick Conoboy

The issue is not sprawl or infill, but the money to be made by the type of infill and its placement

7 comments; last on Apr 09, 2012

Growth, Sprawl & Infill:  Padden Trails Project

Fri, Apr 06, 2012, 8:16 am  //  Guest writer

Ken Mann writes a guest article of his personal support for the Padden Trails development inside the Bellingham city limits.

3 comments; last on Apr 07, 2012

Petition to Keep Charlie Sheldon is Online

Thu, Apr 05, 2012, 4:00 pm  //  John Servais

An Online petition has been posted where citizens can sign on to request the Port Commissioners revote on Charlie Sheldon's termination.

5 comments; last on Apr 06, 2012

We Can Expand Port Commission to Five

Wed, Apr 04, 2012, 3:16 pm  //  John Servais

State law allows us to pass an initiative and increase the number of port commissioners from three to five. Thanks to Harriet Spanel.

4 comments; last on Apr 05, 2012

Two Commissioners Demanded Charlie Resign

Tue, Apr 03, 2012, 6:25 pm  //  John Servais

Port Commissioner Mike McAuley did everything he could do to change Jim Jorgensen's mind. Jim and Scott Walker forced Charlie Sheldon out.

6 comments; last on Apr 06, 2012

Questions about Population Growth

Mon, Apr 02, 2012, 12:43 pm  //  Larry Horowitz

Where to begin? Misinformation. Disinformation. Truths. Myths. Same old, same old. Paradigm shift. GMA. OFM. Growth pressures. Population loss. Growth subsidies. Proportionate share.

36 comments; last on Apr 11, 2012

Charlie Sheldon resigns as Port Director

Mon, Apr 02, 2012, 12:35 pm  //  John Servais

This morning, Charlie Sheldon, unexpectedly resigned as Executive Director of the Port of Bellingham.

10 comments; last on Apr 03, 2012

Mayor Kelli comes through for voters

Mon, Apr 02, 2012, 1:03 am  //  John Servais

A thanks to Kelli Linville for her quiet and effective solution to the onerous red light cameras dilemma.

0 comments

City Has No Love For Fish and Wildlife

Thu, Mar 29, 2012, 10:32 pm  //  Wendy Harris

Development at Bloedel Park ignores impacts to important shoreline habitat

2 comments; last on Mar 31, 2012

Padden Trails Provides Infill

Mon, Mar 19, 2012, 1:07 am  //  Guest writer

Guest writer Bill Geyer, who is the consultant for the Padden Trails Development, presents facts and perspective on the development.

34 comments; last on Apr 15, 2012

Useful Police Activity Visualization Now Online

Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 11:58 pm  //  John Servais

A new private website displays crimes by dates, on a Bellingham map, or by graphs for all citizens to use.

5 comments; last on Mar 21, 2012

Sunnyland neighborhood asks for support

Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 2:11 pm  //  Guest writer

By guest writer Mike Rostron. Sunnyland residents support infill but not overfill. The old Department of Transportation site on Sunset is the development site.

40 comments; last on Mar 19, 2012

NWCitizen upgrade is completed

Mon, Mar 12, 2012, 11:33 am  //  John Servais

Just a short note about nwcitizen past few weeks effort

1 comments; last on Apr 10, 2012

2012-2013 Priorities from City Council

Sun, Mar 11, 2012, 11:20 am  //  Dick Conoboy

The City Council outlines their agenda for the coming year

2 comments; last on Mar 12, 2012

The Curious Disappearance of Bob Ferris

Fri, Mar 09, 2012, 12:15 pm  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley gets to the bottom of this in a NWCitizen Exclusive

4 comments; last on Apr 01, 2012

Padden Trails is Chuckanut Ridge Lite

Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 2:04 am  //  Guest writer

Yet another neighborhood wants the Planning Department to protect public health, safety, and general welfare

6 comments; last on Feb 24, 2012

Congressional Candidates and Overstreet’s Town Hall

Sun, Feb 19, 2012, 6:37 pm  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley at The Political Junkie attends a forum of Congressional Candidates, and a town hall meeting in Lynden

0 comments

 

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