SB21 Repeal Referendum Certified!
After taking the maximum allowable time under the law (go figure), Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell certified the application for a referendum petition filed last week by Vote Yes – Repeal the Giveaway, a grassroots Alaskan group formed to challenge the controversial new law known as Senate Bill 21. The certification allows a signature drive to move forward to put this oil wealth giveaway to a vote of the people in 2014. The group is now waiting for petition booklets from the state.
SB 21 dramatically lowers Alaskans’ oil income, transferring billions of dollars from resource owners to multinational oil companies. It eliminates incentives for oil exploration and does not include requirements for new production.
“Since statehood we have been fighting for control of our resources and our destiny,” said Vic Fischer, a framer of Alaska’s Constitution and a prime sponsor of SB 21. “By repealing SB 21, we will protect the constitutional guarantee that Alaskans derive the ‘maximum benefit’ from resource production.”
“Hundreds of Alaskans have signed up to volunteer, and we look forward to receiving petition booklets so that we may move forward with collecting the signatures necessary to put repeal of SB 21 on the ballot,” said Pat Lavin.
The group will now organize to gather 30,050 signatures statewide.
Alaskans who want to help repeal the giveaway can visit www.facebook.com/VoteYesRepealTheGiveaway to sign up.
Keep in mind that, unlike the initiative process, the Legislature isn’t barred from immediately reversing the action of voters by referendum. It’s not a futile process; it’s a powerful statement to the Legislature. But a stubborn Legislature can re-enact the law at any time.
/WC
Not an Alaskan, so I can only offer my support for the repeal of this malfeasance from afar. Good luck.
Let the see-saw games begin. If the referendum is successful, can’t the legislature just overturn it in a couple years? (like the cruise ship restrictions) Maybe we’ll get a good cut ever other year?
Referendum and initiative are related in the sense that they originate with the people but do different things
Here’s a readable description of what we have :
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Laws_governing_the_initiative_process_in_Alaska
We have veto referendum rights, the right to repeal a specific law. There is no guarantee the Legislature won’t pass the law again at some future date. That’s ok at many levels and for many reasons.
We have indirect initiative rights- that is a bit messier , more frustrating like we’ve seen with the cruise ship dealie, but ok too.
Still boils down to checks and balances on all parties. We have to pay more attention to redistricting this time. We have to. Is another big piece of it all.
[[Jeanne — “…said Vic Fischer, a framer of Alaska’s Constitution and a prime sponsor of SB 21.” Is there a word or two missing in that statement? Isn’t he “a prime sponsor of repealing SP 21″? Or, “a prime sponsor of ‘Backbone,’ the grass-root effort to repeal SB 21”? Or something along those lines? beth.]]
Yeehaw!
Here we go!
Go Alaskans!