Between The Lines: Constitutional Amendments Feeling The Squeeze

Groups pushing two proposed ballot issues have submitted additional signatures to get them on the Nov. 4 election.

The numbers ought to be enough to get both issues before voters, although it will be a while yet before the secretary of state's office can review them.

Then we'll see if either has the broad public support they are expected to have.

We're talking about allowing alcohol sales statewide and raising the minimum wage. Both issues have strong constituencies and some foes.

On Friday, Let Arkansas Decide turned in 41,492 additional names. The group originally fell just 17,133 short of the required valid 78,133 needed to put a constitutional amendment on this year's ballot. Surely, these 41,000-plus will be more than enough.

What the group wants Arkansas voters to decide is that alcohol sales should be permitted in all of the state's 75 counties. A majority of the counties are already "wet," but 37 remain "dry."

The proposed constitutional amendment would make them all "wet" in one fell swoop, if voters agree.

The issue has to get to the ballot first; and, even if enough signatures have been submitted, there may be a court test.

Another group, Let Local Communities Decide for Themselves, has promised to challenge its certification, if Secretary of State Mark Martin allows it.

The foes believe Martin should have set a July 4 deadline for submitting the original petitions to meet the constitutional requirement that petitions be turned in four months before the Nov. 4 election. Martin's office set the deadline for the Monday after the holiday.

It's a precise reading of the requirement. But Martin's office followed common practice in setting the deadline for the first work day after the holiday.

Presumably, whichever way the decision goes, it will affect access to the ballot for both the alcohol and minimum wage issues.

The minimum-wage question is a proposed initiated act and the signature requirement is less. Backers need 62,507 signatures from registered voters.

The group backing the measure, Give Arkansas a Raise Now, originally fell 15,107 signatures short of the mark. But, on Monday, the last day they could submit additional signatures, they turned in 69,070.

Obviously, that should be more than enough to get it to the ballot.

The proposed law would eventually increase the state's minimum wage from $6.25 an hour to $8.50 an hour. The hike would be phased in, reaching $8.50 by 2017.

Both issues, if they reach the ballot, have the potential to bring some voters to the polls, people who might not have voted otherwise. Both are pocketbook issues, at least for some Arkansans.

Democrats, in fact, are counting on the minimum-wage question to help draw out working people to support candidates like U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and the party's gubernatorial hopeful, former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross. Both have endorsed the measure.

Of course, there is another side to the issue. The proposal troubles some small-business owners, who may be more inclined to rally to the Republican side of the ballot.

The alcohol question probably cuts across both parties.

Chamber of commerce types, who see the business value of statewide alcohol sales, including increased tourism, are likely to support it, regardless of party affiliation.

But those who may oppose wider-spread alcohol sales on moral grounds or for safety reasons also come from both parties.

The biggest challenge for backers -- and foes -- of each of the proposals will be to get their respective messages heard in this year's cacophony of political advertising.

The U.S. Senate race between Democrat Pryor and Republican Tom Cotton, currently a congressman, is taking up most of the space.

The gubernatorial contest between Democrat Ross and Republican Asa Hutchinson, another former congressman, is claiming much of the rest.

As all of those campaigns move into the end stages, spending record millions to win the seats, it will be virtually impossible for any other messages to get through.

Remember, the secretary of state's office has most of a month left to review all the signatures that have been submitted.

Then there is the potential delay from the promised court challenge to follow, assuming the issues are certified for the ballot.

The time for issue campaigns will be tightly squeezed. And that suggests a difficult path for both issues, despite evidence of support for each.

BRENDA BLAGG IS A FREELANCE COLUMNIST AND LONGTIME JOURNALIST IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

Commentary on 08/20/2014

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