CHRISTIE SAYS INITIATIVE & REFERENDUM COULD HELP CONTROL GOVERNMENT SPENDING
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Trenton - (WBGO News 1/28/2010)

Governor Christie says initiative and referendum could benefit New Jersey.

However, political analysts say that might not control costs.

Many other states have some form of initiative and referendum allowing citizens to put issues on the ballot.

The Governor says that’s one way to rein in government.spending.

But, Seton Hall political science professor Joe Marbach says it might not work out that way.

 “It actually might expand government if there was an initiative to provide a certain type of service, government might be required to increase spending. So until you see the kind of proposals that would come out you really just don’t know if it would expand or limit government.”

There are also concerns about the effectiveness of the initiative and referendum process. Fairleigh Dickinson political scientist Peter Wooley says special interest groups can spend big money to influence the agenda, and there are often conflicting measures on the ballot at the same time.

© 1/28/2010 WBGO News