Out-of-state special interests drive citizen initiatives. Is that really what we want?

In the current and recent elections, out-of-state special interests have identified Arizona as ground zero for pushing through radical changes to laws that they would like to see spread throughout the country.

At the time of our statehood in 1912, the framers of the Arizona Constitution designed the citizens’ initiative process to enable residents of Arizona to take issues directly to the ballot when the Legislature failed to act upon important matters. The first initiative passed in 1912 by more than a 2-to-1 margin, granting women the right to vote.

Jump forward 110 years, and well-financed groups from California, New York, Washington, D.C., Oregon and other states are exploiting our initiative process to pass ideological agendas.

It’s time we return the process to its original intent as tool of direct democracy for and by the people of Arizona.

Look who's behind Arizona's current initiatives

Campaign finance disclosure requirements provide important insights on who is funding ballot initiatives in Arizona.

For example, a recent “voter guide” mailed out by Healthcare Rising AZ – the group pushing a measure on medical debt – disclosed that 100% of its funding came from out-of-state donors. This political action committee (PAC) has raised more than $12 million this election cycle from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) based in Oakland, Calif.

Another view: Prop. 128, 129 and 132 make it easier for rich to control you

In another glaring example, Will of the People PAC, which opposes reforming the ballot initiative process, raised less than 1% of its funds from Arizonans. The remainder of its $2.7 million came from organizations based in Washington, D.C., and California.

On Nov. 8, Arizona voters can regain control of the initiative process by voting yes on three ballot propositions: 129, 128 and 132.

Proposition 129 would limit false choices

Proposition 129 strengthens democracy by requiring ballot initiatives to address a single issue. It will stop the practice of multiple topics being included on a single ballot initiative and will require the subject to be clearly expressed in the title.

Over the years, voters have repeatedly been faced with false choices. They’ve had to choose between supporting or opposing initiatives that cover multiple topics when they may favor some concepts but have serious concerns with others.

Arizonans deserve to vote for or against important policy issues, one at a time.

Proposition 129 aligns with the long-standing legislative process that requires a bill to address a single subject. This process limits logrolling (vote trading) and increases transparency.

Proposition 128 improves the initiative system by ensuring elected lawmakers can repair an initiative that the courts deem to be unconstitutional or contain illegal language.

This modest measure does not dismantle the Voter Protection Act. It provides a narrow ability for the Legislature to fix drafting and other errors so that an entire initiative is not struck down by the courts.

This means proponents do not have to restart the lengthy and expensive process of getting a new initiative on the ballot in the next election.

Help take back the initiative process

Proposition 132 protects taxpayers. It requires ballot propositions that raise taxes to be passed by at least 60% of the vote, rather than just one vote more than 50%.

Under current law, a ballot proposition requires only a simple majority to raise taxes or create an entirely new tax. This has opened the floodgates for out-of-state special interests to push forward initiatives that raise taxes on Arizonans’ whose income is “too high,” whose business is “too successful,” or whose lawful activities are “undesirable” according to their ideology.

The legislators we elect to represent us at the state Capitol cannot raise our taxes without more than 60% approval; Why should we allow out-of-state special interests to do it at the ballot box?

With Proposition 132 in place, Arizonans can rest easy that taxes will only go up when they are broadly supported, and fund government programs and activities valued by a strong majority of voters.

For too long, out-of-state activists with big pockets have exercised too much control over Arizona politics. If left unchecked, their influence will only grow.

This election, Arizona voters have a special opportunity to take back control of the initiative process by passing Propositions 129, 128 and 132. With these measures in place, the system will serve the residents of Arizona as it was always intended to do.

Suzanne Kinney is president and CEO of the Arizona Chapter of NAIOP, the commercial real estate development association, which has over 1,000 members in office, industrial, retail, multifamily and mixed-use real estate in Arizona. Reach her at suzanne@naiopaz.org.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Prop. 128, 129 and 132 would limit special interests on initiatives