Over the years I’ve come to be very skeptical of the initiated measure process in North Dakota.
I haven’t always felt this way. In years past there have been ballot measures that I enthusiastically supported because I thought they were good policy. But increasingly it seems like the initiated measure has become a way for deep-pocketed interests to bypass North Dakota’s elected representatives in the Legislature.
Last cycle we had Measure 5 which would have created a slush fund for conservation activists and was backed by big money groups like Ducks Unlimited.
This cycle we have Marsy’s Law, the pet project of California billionaire Henry Nicholas who has, so far, been the ballot measure’s only source of financial support.
