Citizen juries and the initiative process
Talk about putting citizens at the center of the initiative process. Last winter the legislature discussed a strong series of initiative reforms, including banning the paid per signature model of signature gathering. But, there was one reform that got little attention at the time, but would have radically changed how initiatives are considered.
HB 1696, which didn't even receive a committee hearing, would have instituted a series of "citizen juries" for each qualified initiative. Five citizens from across the state, put together much the same way a judicial jury is, would provide a concise and clear statement on the possible effect of an initiative. More specifics here.
When most of the reforms we're talking about for the initiative process tend to be cosmetic (upping the filling fee from $5) to trying to tie the hands of moneyed interests (like banning paid per signature campaigns), its interesting to see an attempt to inject citizens back into the process. Rather than listening to Yes and No campaigns, voters would have at least the opinions of their fellow citizens to consider:
The Citizens Initiative Review is intended to allow a microcosm of the people of Washington, meeting in citizens panels, to take a close look at at least two statewide initiatives and referenda. They will spend five days doing this and then issue a report with their findings. A one-page summary of this report will be placed in the Voters Pamphlet, with the full report being available online.
The Citizen Jury concept has worked before. In British Columbia they used one to outline a compete overhaul the province's election system, though that recommendations of that jury have yet to be put into place (wikipedia and New America Foundation).
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