HomeMy WebLinkAboutR16-056 Raise the Bar, Protect our Constitution Commissioner moved adoption
of the f owing Resolution:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 2016- D 5p
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE RAISE THE BAR,
PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE
WHEREAS,the Eagle County Board of Commissioners have a unique role in
governance with both legislative and executive duties; and
WHEREAS, the Commissioners are the elected officials closest to the constituents in
Eagle County; and
WHEREAS, the Commissioners are looked to for leadership on matters of government
policy; and
WHEREAS, Colorado law requires the same citizen initiative process to amend our
Constitution as our state statutes creating a framework for one of the most easily amended
Constitutions in the country; and
WHEREAS,under the current initiative process, there is no incentive to seek a statutory
change as opposed to a constitutional amendment since the standard to change both is the same;
and
WHEREAS,since 2005, special interests have presented Colorado voters with over two
dozen constitutional amendments,measures that have triggered expensive, and frequently
unproductive and harmful political fights; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that the ease of amending Colorado's constitution leaves
the state vulnerable to out of state special interest groups; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that amendments to the Constitution should be broadly
and not narrowly supported; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that broad support would be shown by including all
Coloradans in the signature gathering process with signatures obtained from all 35 state senate
districts before a measure qualifies for the ballot; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that once on the ballot, broad support would be shown
by achieving 55% of the vote to pass instead of the current requirement of a simple majority; and
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Eagle C my Attorney's,Office
By:.
Eagle County Commissioners'Office
WHEREAS,the Board believes that the Raise the Bar, Protect Our Constitution
initiative preserves voters'rights to propose changes and place an initiative on the ballot.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO:
THAT,the Eagle County Board of Commissioners hereby supports the Raise the Bar,
Protect our Constitution measure that makes it harder to amend the Colorado Constitution.
MOVED, READ AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of the
County of Eagle, State of Colorado, at its regular meeting held the 12th day of July, 2016
1St N. COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF
tâ–º COLORADO, by and Through Its
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
CY Cet Cnce'l By: ni caui
Teak J. Simonton re-
e e McQueene
Clerk to the Board of hair
County Commissioners
Jan H Ryan
P0111 sioner ,
Kat y Ch,t e er-Henry
/ Commissioner
Commissioner / se' co red adoption of the foregoing resolution. The roll
having been ca ed, the vote was as follows:
Commissioner McQueeney Gl
Commissioner Ryan
Commissioner Chandler-Henry ---
This Resolution passed by% vote of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of
Eagle, State of Colorado.