01/19/1993 08:00 AM House STA

  HJR 1:  USE OF INITIATIVE TO AMEND CONSTITUTION                              
                                                                               
  Number 407                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY read the title of HJR 1.  He invited comments                 
  or questions from the committee and then from public                         
  agencies.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Number 429                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GAIL PHILLIPS, sponsor of HJR 1, spoke of the                 
  need for the legislation.  (A summary of her testimony has                   
  been included in the committee bill file.)  Rep. Phillips                    
  requested that HJR 1 be held until the fiscal note was                       
  available.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 458                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked if HJR 1 would change statutes also.                    
                                                                               
  Number 460                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS replied that it would amend the                      
  constitution only and not statutes.                                          
                                                                               
  Number 466                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE SANDERS asked if it would require two-thirds                  
  of the registered voters who vote.                                           
                                                                               
  Number 470                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS stated that the constitutional                       
  convention question was asked at the last election and the                   
  response was not to have one.  He asked why this was                         
  different.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 476                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS responded that the question was to                   
  not open up the total constitution, yet the people wanted                    
  changes, such as term limits.  She said it takes a major                     
  effort and a drive was difficult to put an initiative on the                 
  ballot.                                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 492                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS asked if debate should be a concern                  
  in the initiative process.                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 501                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS responded that the more the debate                   
  the better.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Number 505                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE SANDERS shared a concern about the                            
  newspaper's power of persuasion.                                             
                                                                               
  Number 509                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS said that it would be a                              
  responsibility of the legislature to make sure that they get                 
  their side out as well.                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 518                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS asked for clarification of                           
  Representative Martin's bills, HJR 8 and HJR 1.                              
                                                                               
  Number 539                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY stated that public hearings for HJR 1 would                   
  be done this month through teleconference.