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Seems states with enough public land advocates would be better off with ballot initiatives
Getting a ballot initiative off the ground is incredibly hard. Speaking only for how it works in MT (not sure how they do it in other states), it is currently not a viable option. At minimum, just to get the draft, signatures, and word out would cost well over $1 million. And then (again, just in MT), any ballot initiative has to be approved by the attorney general. Our AG has pushed through legally dubious initiatives he agrees with, but has already put a flag in the ground with his views on public land (he’s not a proponent). He’s also slowed the process on other culture war ballot initiatives he doesn’t agree with in such a way that they had to litigate them and they will likely fail to reach the ballot because of his delays.
 
Wow! I wasn't aware. That's interesting.
Yup, from the secretary of state's website:

"A citizen proposed ballot issue can only appear on the federal general election ballot once the proposed language has fulfilled three requirements. First, the language must be submitted to Montana’s Legislative Services Division. Second, the Montana Attorney General must conduct a legal review. Finally, after the review process is complete, and the sponsor has been notified by the Secretary of State of the approval or rejection of the ballot issue, the sponsor must collect sufficient verified signatures from qualified voters in Montana"

What happened with the culture war issue is the AG delayed the legal review and found some grounds to deny the petition, which the MT supreme court had to step in and say it was wrong, which now doesn't give the proponents enough time to gather signatures.
 
The longer they stall, the more $$$ is involved from "vested interests", ie ranchers from surrounding states.

They were supposed to have a decision last August, no?
 
Last I saw it was still stalled in the 10th with no update, either way, expect either side to file a petition for writ. So more waiting, which is expected.
 
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