Opinion ID: 1191239
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: contention: initiative measure 282 is in fact an unconstitutional referendum of a measure in support of state government.

Text: The initiative and referendum are constitutional means by which the electorate may express legislative intent. They are completely separate powers and may be separately exercised. Each is a distinct process having its own constitutional and statutory rules of the road. [5] By the referendum initiated either by a petition signed by the required number of registered voters or by direction of the legislature itself, the electorate either approves or rejects an act of the legislature. By the initiative the electorate may propose and enact legislation whether it amends existing law or enters an entirely new field. Although both processes furnish a broad base for the exercise of power by the people, there are constitutional and statutory differences between the two processes. Except for one, we deem it beyond our function as a pro tempore Supreme Court to elaborate upon these differences when it is not necessary for a decision in the instant case. As we have heretofore pointed out, when the legislature enacted Laws of 1973, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 137, § 110, granting state elected officials and the judiciary substantial salary increases, the Secretary of State refused to file documents providing for a referendum of section 110. In State ex rel. Helm v. Kramer, 82 Wn.2d 307, 510 P.2d 1110 (1973), the Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of mandamus directed to the Secretary of State upon the ground that Laws of 1973, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 137, § 110, was not subject to referendum because under the constitution the right of referendum does not apply to ... such laws as may be necessary for the ... support of the state government and its existing public institutions ... Const. art. 2, § 1 (b) (amendment 7). With this decision, we have no quarrel; but we do not agree with petitioners' conclusion that the decision makes initiative measure 282 a functional referendum and hence constitutionally invalid. Petitioners' conclusion is akin to the early common-law theory of pleading that if a litigant asked for a writ of replevin when his action should have sounded in detinue, or vice versa, he lost his remedy. This has never been a theory under our code procedure. Initiative measure 282 amends Laws of 1973, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 137, § 110. It, too, grants increased compensation to those involved, commencing January 1, 1974, but on a more modest scale. A statute passed by the initiative process must be in clear conflict with a specific provision of the constitution before it can be declared unconstitutional. We find nothing in the constitution, statutes, or the prior opinions of the Supreme Court to throw doubt upon our conclusion that initiative measure 282 is not an unconstitutional referendum in disguise. It is a valid amendment of a statute that had not yet become effective.