03/26/08

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ A House committee has killed a proposal that
would have required a detailed financial analysis before any state
voter initiative could pass.

The House State Affairs Committee voted 8 to 8 today on the
measure. A tie vote means a bill dies.

Idaho statute allows citizens to pass any law with a majority
vote.

The proposal would have added the requirement that anybody who
circulates a petition to get an initiative onto the ballot would
have to conduct a detailed financial analysis.

The state Division of Financial Management would then have 30
days to complete its own analysis.

The state would then send those financial summaries to all Idaho
households.

Some lawmakers said the requirement would add a complex barrier
to citizen-initiated laws.

Others said it would provide voters with information they need
to make good decisions.
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(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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