Ask Scott to defend our initiative rights

This week, the Idaho House of Representatives will vote on Senate Bill 1110, sponsored by a Coeur d'Alene senator, which will make it impossible for citizens to put initiatives on the ballot for important changes.

In 2018 I helped gather signatures for the initiative that expanded Medicaid to provide health coverage for thousands of low-income Idahoans. 52% of voters in our district voted for the measure.

The process is already so difficult, time-consuming and expensive for grass-roots groups like ours that if SB 1110 passes, only those backed by corporations and other wealthy enterprises will make it to the voters. The requirement to get signatures from 18 districts in the state was established in 2013. In the eight years since then, 15 initiatives have been attempted and only two made the ballot. 13 of 15 attempts were blocked under the current rules, so it's already plenty difficult.

Please join me in writing to our representative, Heather Scott, asking her to vote against the bill as she did four years ago on a similar bill.

CLARICE McKENNEY

Bonners Ferry