2 November 2008 2 Days

The Ballot Questions: The Right Wing and Special Interests
Promote A Constitutional Convention

Vote No on Question 1; Vote Yes On Question 2

by John McNamara
Democratic Town Chairman

In 1959, the state legislature officially designated Connecticut the "Constitution State" because of a state constitution based on the "Fundamental Orders" of the 1600s. Historians recognize Connecticut for an enduring constitution that served as the basis for the U.S. Constitution and that has been adapted most of the time only through specific amendments and changes that have been put to the voters for approval.

This year's state referendum would authorize the Legislature to create a constitutional convention with no clear agenda, a Cart Blanche re-opening of a document that has served our representative democracy well. If there is an agenda for Question 1 it can be discerned from heavily funded proponents who have a hodge-podge of extreme positions: opposing gay marriage and a woman's right to choose and instituting draconian and regressive tax systems that would only add to the burdens of working and middle income people. Put simply, these pseudo-conservatives have nothing in common with a conservative movement that respects American traditions. Particularly disturbing to progressive Catholics in this campaign has been the Catholic Conference. The group has pumped six-figure donations into the referendum to fight their church/state wars as it aligns itself with forces that are antithetical to the Catholic tradition of economic and social justice.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is one of the groups opposing Question 1 and its views should be heeded by voters on Tuesday. Said Jara Burnett, CT League President: "The League believes that our Connecticut Constitution, thoroughly reviewed and revised in 1965, works well as our state's basic framework of government. We do not need a convention to change the constitution. The legislative amendment process, with its public hearings, its televised sessions, and its system of checks-and-balances, has served our state well in developing sound constitutional proposals for specific issues. In fact, the second question on this November's ballot relating to 17 year-olds voting in a primary if 18 by the general election is an example of a proposed change to the Constitution via this process of deliberation.

"Special interest organizations are working to convince voters to vote "yes" to a Convention in order to pursue their hot-button issues like banning a woman's right to choose or gay marriage. These supporters wish to change the Constitution to enable direct initiative and referendum to become an accepted way of making laws and amending Connecticut's Constitution. The League opposes initiative and referendum. With initiative and referendum, it's too easy for well-funded special interests to sway public opinion on controversial issues. It took us decades to pass a law to provide a system of campaign finance to eliminate special interest money. Let's not let special interest money back into our system again! If voters are dissatisfied with the actions of the General Assembly, they should make their views known during the legislative process or elect new legislators."

More information available at
http://www.lwvct.org/issues/resources/league_says_no_to_constitutional.htm

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