Little: No need to make ballot initiative process tougher

Idaho Gov. Brad Little says he’s willing to consider updates to Idaho’s ballot initiative process but doesn’t see a reason to make the process substantially more difficult.

Little told the Lewiston Tribune in a story on Tuesday his position hasn’t changed since he vetoed two bills earlier this year that would have made it much tougher to qualify an initiative for the ballot.

The governor said the restrictions went too far and could prompt a lawsuit, allowing a federal judge to decide the state’s initiative process.

Opponents saw the restrictions as retaliation for last year’s Medicaid expansion initiative that passed with more than 60 percent approval.

Little says he’s heard speculation that lawmakers are planning to again bring ballot initiative restrictions during the 2020 legislative session, but no one has approached him so far.