Laurie Roberts

opinion columnist

Consider yourself slapped, Arizona.

On Thursday morning, in one of the more disgraceful displays I’ve ever seen at the Legislature, the House Government Committee approved a bill that will fundamentally affect your constitutional rights to make laws at the ballot box.

And not in a good way.

Our leaders did it after refusing to allow citizens to speak for longer than a minute apiece to defend their rights, and even then interrupting several times to tell speakers their 60 seconds were just about up.

They did it after limiting the ability of Democrats on the panel to question the bill’s sponsor, suggesting that he ask his questions in private.

It seems the Republicans who control the joint were just too pressed for time to allow a full airing of the bill. Having read it, I can certainly see why they’d rather hurry it along.

Why weren't Republicans concerned about ...

House Bill 2404 throws up multiple obstacles designed to make it more difficult, if not impossible, for citizens to make laws by voter initiative.

A right given to you 105 years ago by Arizona’s founding fathers.

Mark 2017 as the year when you will essentially lose that fundamental right.

I know this because of the disdain showed voters during Thursday’s so-called public hearing on the bill.

ROBERTS: SOS Arizona 2.0, taking aim at your rights

Not a single Republican expressed a concern about the bill or even had a question…

…About why we would want to make it vastly more expensive to mount a citizen initiative.

…About why suddenly groups would no longer be able to pay petition circulators by the signature -- a method that keeps costs down -- even as they could continue to pay by the signature when circulating their nominating petitions..

…About why it’s necessary suddenly to require that initiative campaigns adhere to “strict compliance” with the law as opposed to the current standard, “substantial compliance” – meaning that such minor offenses as being a quarter-inch off in the margins could result in an initiative petition signed by hundreds of thousands of Arizona voters being thrown out.

I imagine the Republicans didn’t need to ask why, because they already know the answer.

What HB 2404's supporters know

The powers-that-be in this state are steamed that voters approved Prop. 206, raising the state’s minimum wage.

Payback? It’s being delivered by Rep. Vince Leach, R-Tucson, who assures us that HB 2404 is all about protecting the integrity of the electoral system -- that our rights aren’t being affected by the myriad of changes, including the big one making it more vastly more expensive (read: essentially unaffordable) to hire petition circulators.

Oh, but not to worry.

“You can go all volunteer,” Leach said, with a smile.

So says the man who relied on paid signatures to get on the ballot.

Never mind that it is impossible for volunteers to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures in a short period of time without the help of paid petition circulators.

ROBERTS: SOS, Arizona: You're about to lose a basic right

ROBB: No, these bills won't strip your rights (but they are pointless)

But then, Leach knows that, as do the who’s who of power brokers in this state who are supporting this bill to erode our rights. Among them:

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for whom the Gone in 60 Seconds Rule didn't apply on Thursday. It's rep spoke for three minutes. Also, Arizona Public Service, APS’s dark money pals at the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, the Arizona Restaurant Association and the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. Apparently, its members are still smarting over a failed initiative to cap the pay of hospital executives.

Meanwhile, those opposing the bill include the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, various union groups and non-profits. Oh, and several hundred citizens, some of whom showed up on Thursday speak.

People like Theresa Ulmer, who managed to work in a sentence or two before Rep Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, began interrupting her to count down her 60 seconds.

“Make sure you are being fair to the citizens of Arizona,” Ulmer said. “And if you’re going to erode the Constitution, don’t step up and talk about integrity.”

The bill passed 5-3, on a partyline vote. Not a single Republican felt the need to explain his or her vote.

Indeed, their reasons were crystal clear.

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Voting for the bill were Republicans Doug Coleman of Apache Junction, Bob Thorpe of Flagstaff, Michelle Ugenti-Rita of Scottsdale, Todd Clodfelter of Tucson, and Drew John of Safford.

Voting against the bill were Democrats Ken Clark of Phoenix, Athena Salman of Tempe, and Ray Martinez of Phoenix.