Sen. Chenette submits constitutional amendment to protect referendum results

​AUGUSTA — Sen. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, has introduced a constitutional amendment to protect any voter-approved referendum results from repeal or alterations for at least one year following their passage.
 
Chenette’s bill submission comes on the heels of a contentious legislative session that saw nearly every referendum approved by voters in the 2016 election altered or repealed.
 
“It’s appalling to me that a small group of politicians can overturn the will of the voters,” said Sen. Chenette. “We must protect the legitimacy of fair and free election results, otherwise what’s the point of voting?”
 
As the ranking member of the Taxation Committee, Chenette was a leading voice to fully implement Question 2’s progressive tax policy in order to fully fund public education. He also supported legislative efforts to implement the increase in the minimum wage, ranked choice voting, and marijuana initiatives approved at the ballot box.
 
“The Legislature should allow enough time for voter-approved referendums to become law and collect data to determine their effectiveness before rushing to change them or eliminate them entirely,” Chenette said.
 
All bill submissions for the second regular session of the Legislature will go before Legislative Council for approval on October 26. The council consists of House and Senate leadership from both parties.

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