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End the Back Door
Referendum
The back door referendum is a fraudulent way to enact
legislation. A back door referendum requires a petition drive by
citizens to express opposition to some types of proposed
legislation, which will automatically become law unless enough
valid signatures are gathered that can withstand challenges. The
procedure allows elected officials to avoid voting on the
proposal, and thereby escape being held accountable to their
constituents.
The prospect of a back door referendum loomed once again, as
Mayor Scott revealed his new budget for the City of Rockford. Few
cuts are being proposed, and even with the plan to issue bonds,
borrow, and move expenditures from one area of the budget to
another, taxes will ultimately be raised if enough citizens do
not effectively prove their opposition.
Locally, the back door referendum has been used many times,
recently by the Rockford Park District, and most noteworthily for
the enactment of our local Superfund for environmental cleanup.
Why is it not surprising that no politicians want to abolish this
illegitimate, undemocratic mechanism that is brazenly used by
government to automatically raise taxes? It's just another way
that they continue to show disrespect for those who put them in
office. These are the same politicians who enthusiastically work
against equal ballot access, so voters cannot choose independent
or third party candidates on election day.