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Legislators defend tougher initiative rules and a proposed constitutional backstop for Medicaid expansion
Summary
Delegation members said they support making constitutional changes harder and cited concerns about outside money influencing ballot measures; they also described a proposed constitutional amendment that would let the Legislature revisit Medicaid expansion if federal FMAP support falls.
Residents pressed legislators about dozens of measures on the initiative process and a proposed constitutional proposal to clarify voter residency and to address future federal Medicaid changes.
Representative William Shorma and Representative Chris Kassem defended measures that make some ballot actions harder to place or to change the state constitution, saying the Constitution should be harder to amend and expressing concern about national groups bringing expensive campaigns to the state. "I do think the constitution deserves a higher standard to be changed," Kassem said. Shorma added that ballot measures sometimes "become a beta site for testing national issues at a lower cost."
On voting requirements, delegates discussed Senate Joint Resolution 503 (SJR503) to reiterate that U.S. citizenship is required to vote. Legislators said the proposal is largely about clarity rather than a change in practice; they noted interchamber differences in the precise language but expressed general support for the substance.
On Medicaid, Senator Davis described a proposed constitutional amendment (discussed at the forum as HJR/SJR numbered measures) that would allow the Legislature to revisit Medicaid expansion if the federal funding formula for expansion changed materially (for example, reducing the federal share below the current 90/10 split). "It's not a trigger... it's saying, hey, if this changes, you will... have the ability to contemplate changes," Davis said. She and other legislators said the amendment would not automatically end expansion but would permit legislative action if federal costs rose sharply.
Ending: Legislators urged citizens to attend local hearings and events to discuss initiative-related bills and the Medicaid amendment before final votes.
