using Information for Voters statement as an aid to statutory construction
How later courts described this case
- using Information for Voters statement as an aid to statutory construction
- “The desire of Massachusetts citizens to place significant limits on their initiative powers in art. 48 resulted in a constitutional amendment that as a whole is considerably more modulated than are the initiative amendments to some other States’ Constitutions adopted at about the same time”
- purposes not served where Legislature failed to appropriate funds to effect law enacted by ballot measure
- in ordering compliance with the “Clean Elections Law” enacted through a ballot initiative, the Supreme Judicial Court noted, “If the Legislature wishes not to appropriate funds for the law, it may repeal it”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
Cowin, J.
(dissenting, with whom Spina, J., joins). Having already expressed my view that the Legislature has acted within its constitutional prerogative, and that, accordingly, the plaintiffs have no rights to be vindicated, it is my opinion that no remedy is appropriate. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.