Tim Nesbitt: Election-year legislatures can correct the excesses of initiative politics

Oregonian (editorial):

Five years ago, Oregon voters approved the legislature's request to begin meeting for short sessions in election years. The rationale for moving to annual sessions came right from a civics textbook: Lawmakers could keep closer watch over the budget and respond more quickly to emergencies. But the political consequence of this change was just as important for good government: Election-year legislatures can respond to the agenda-setting power of the initiative process and help correct its tendency to drive public policy to extremes.

Read the full article here. Discuss below.

connect with blueoregon