CO wolf ban ballot initiative. Is overturning ballot box biology by a ballot initiative still ballot box biology or the opposite?

[elkduds]

2026 ballot measure that would overturn Colorado wolf reintroduction clears first hurdle

Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy want to ask voters to stop wolf reintroduction work at the end of 2026.

coloradosun.com

 

[Mallardsx2]

Let’s be honest, the same people that voted for wolves are going to vote for them again and the same people that voted against them are going to vote against them again.l and the same people who refused to vote (because they believe that their vote doesn’t count) are going to sit in their freaking chairs and not get out and vote.

I think we know which one of those groups has gotten bigger within the state.

 

[Sytes]

Let’s be honest, the same people that voted for wolves are going to vote for them again and the same people that voted against them are going to vote against them again.l and the same people who refused to vote (because they believe that their vote doesn’t count) are going to sit in their freaking chairs and not get out and vote.

I think we know which one of those groups has gotten bigger within the state.

I disagree. Collectively, we (State and nationally) countered the "Cats aren't trophies" ballot agenda - part II.

As for whether it's playing the same ballot box biology or not, No. Not IMO. It is clearing metropolitan market signature impressions and reverting it to the actual biology based CPW responsibility.

 

[LuketheDog]

It's the opposite of ballot box biology. This new initiative is not trying to remove wolves from landscape, just force better management now that we're stuck with them. Why do the pro-wolf folks get to make the rules and then cry foul when someone else plays by them too? I think they're afraid the general public in Colorado may not be quite as gullible as they were the first time around. And as I recall, democrat politicians in this state have shot down every recent movement to ban ballot initiatives, hopefully it will at least start to bite them in the rear.

This quote from the Sun article illustrates the problem with the pro-wolf tribe, and why they're losing support:
“This is so petty,” said Rob Edward with the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, which is raising money this month to help purchase fladry, lights and trail cameras to help ranchers better protect livestock. “This extremist group could spend a million or more helping ranchers adapt to wolves on the ground. Instead they are going to throw money down that hole and stir people’s confusion about what’s going on with wolves. The fact is the Colorado wolf program is, bar none, a great example of good state wildlife management.”

If you follow the link^ in the Sun article it just goes to a page asking for money, nothing about "helping ranchers", and if you follow that to RMWP page they're just trying to raise money to pay $50,000 rewards for information about a wolf that was shot.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

Wow. “Great example of good wildlife management”. He can’t be serious. Even folks who supported Prop 114 will admit that it has been a complete debacle. And not CPW’s fault either. Reality is the wolf proponents haven’t held up their end of the bargain and are not providing the funding for the continued reintroduction and depredation compensation. Sen. Jeff Bridges and his cronies are now looking to divert revenue from hunting and license sales to the wolf program. Something they said they wouldn’t do during the last session. My understanding of this Prop is that it would end any further reintroduction efforts, allowing the existing wolves to expand into suitable habitat and CPW to manage that existing population of wolves. Really a reasonable compromise in my eyes.

 

[tormenter]

Let’s be honest, the same people that voted for wolves are going to vote for them again and the same people that voted against them are going to vote against them again.l and the same people who refused to vote (because they believe that their vote doesn’t count) are going to sit in their freaking chairs and not get out and vote.

I think we know which one of those groups has gotten bigger within the state.

Mallard - I guarantee you that rural Colorado voters will come out in full force unlike they did when this ballot issue was out. Additionally, the whole public is now seeing how jacked up the implementation plan was and is along with the lack of transparency along with the unplanned costs of this disastrous rollout of wolves and lies by the CPW and the Polis team.

I believe this would easily pass now and needs to be on the ballot.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

The other reasonable option might be Colorado legislators freeze general funds for wolf reintroduction and tell CPW to pause any further reintroductions efforts. With a major state budget deficit, it would seem quite ridiculous to divert funds away from public schools, roads, and healthcare to continue this wolf misadventure. But the controlling interests in the General Assembly are pretty extreme these days and the wolf folks have huge amounts of influence compared to everyday Coloradans.