CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE-UP?
 

For the first time since 1986, Connecticut voters this fall will be asked on the election ballot whether or not they want the state to hold a constitutional convention. Such a convention would determine if changes should be made to the state constitution.

That may sound like a fairly innocent endeavor, but in 1986, voters defeated the question and no convention was held. The last convention occurred in 1965. At that time, action was urgently needed to correct a deeply flawed system of apportioning General Assembly representatives. The old system gave some big cities roughly the same number of House seats as some small towns, and that pattern was ruled unconstitutional in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Voters focused on this year's presidential race may be inclined to overlook extra ballot questions, but rest assured you'll see and hear plenty about the constitutional convention issue before November from forces pro and con.

Recently a coalition of groups that supports the ballot initiative process used in states such as California launched an effort to persuade Connecticut to vote "yes" on the constitutional convention question. This new effort, called the "Connecticut Constitution Convention Campaign" is hoping the convention would approve a measure allowing Connecticut to enact the initiative mechanism.Using that process, citizens could petition issues onto the election ballot in future years. Such initiatives could include new restrictions on eminent domain, a property tax cap, or a ban on gay marriage.

"We will do business and we will govern differently in the state of Connecticut forever if we implement this policy of initiative and referendum," said Mathew Daly of Glastonbury, who is heading up the drive.
Daly won't have an open field to run on. Many elected officials and interest groups are opposed to a constitutional convention, including the powerful labor governing body, the Connecticut AFL-CIO.

Lori Pelletier, secretary-treasurer of the state AFL-CIO called the initiative process "nothing more than smoke and mirrors to take away from what people vote on in November." She explained that we live in a representative democracy where citizens can suggest ideas to their state legislators, attend public hearings to express their views, and if elected officials don't get their job done, citizens can "vote them out of office."

Critics of the initiative process claim that too often issues hit the ballot because they've activated an emotional hot button among the voters, or because some special interest is willing to spend big bucks to get it on the ballot and see it through.

However, State Sen. Sam Caligiuri (R-Waterbury) believes the initiative process could provide "an escape valve in our laws that allows people to take an issue directly to the ballot" if the legislature "is not being responsive."

A constitutional convention could be used to make other changes in the state constitution including the size of the legislature, changing the line-up or power of elected state officials, broader citizen rights, or new fiscal restraints. So far there isn't much chatter on those topics.

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz explained that the convention question is on the ballot this year because Article 13th of the Connecticut Constitution mandates that the issue must go to the voters "in the general election of the next even numbered year following the expiration of a 20-year period since the last time voters were asked the question." Whew!

According to Bysiewicz a constitutional convention will be called only if a majority of voters this fall vote "yes" and the convention's membership and duration are approved by a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the General Assembly.

Any amendment or revision of the Connecticut Constitution okayed by the convention would then need to be ratified by a majority of voters in the following general election.

Bysiewicz has her own opinion on the convention issue. "In my opinion, a convention to amend our state Constitution is not necessary; I support our constitution as written," she said. "Any amendments or revisions can be made by the people's representatives in the General Assembly and then approved by a majority of voters."
 

Posted 6/30/08

Comments or questions?  Contact us at  CTReport@crnradio.com

© Connecticut Radio Network