Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2044 (2008)

Not on Ballot
This measure was not put on an election ballot

House Concurrent Resolution 2044
legislative referral
Year	2008
Subject	Funding for initiative protected programs
Sponsored by:	Arizona House of Reps
Current Status
Status	Did not make ballot

The House Concurrent Resolution 2044 would have allowed the legislature to amend initiative or referendum protected budgets in years of a fiscal crisis. The legislative referral was intended for the 2008 ballot.

It read:

In order to avoid a budget deficit, any limitation on the legislature's authority to appropriate or divert funds created by initiative or referendum prescribed by this paragraph does not apply in any fiscal year in which the respective budget offices of the governor and the legislature issue a written finding that the state budget for the fiscal year is projected to have a deficit.

Support

Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said this would have meant that a huge chunk of budget growth, about $600 million a year, on "auto-pilot," has made it difficult for the Legislature to balance the budget during hard economic times.

Opposition

Many said that this was simply a "smoke screen" to mask legislatures attempt to cut away at the rights of direct democracy by allowing lawmakers to undo or defund programs they don't like. Past campaign measure managers, like Karen Woodhouse, deputy director of First Things First came out against the initiative.

This initiative would have also reversed the Arizona Voter Protection Act, an initiative that was passed so the legislature could not alter initiatives.

Status

Passed the House on 03/24/08.

Did not pass the Senate.

Did not make the ballot.

See also

• Arizona 2008 ballot measures
• Laws governing the initiative process in Arizona
• Campaign finance requirements for Arizona ballot measures

External links

• Arizona Secretary of State, 2008 Initiative applications
• Arizona Republic, Tread on it lightly, April 10, 2008