On the recordSeptember 28, 1995
It is perfectly legitimate, it is utterly appropriate that we would actually give a preference to referenda, popular referenda, State referenda, because that is the only instance in which the people speak themselves. It is the purest form of democracy that we have got and we ought to do everything in our power to protect that, to give assurance to the people, to let them know, without any question, that that will be respected and that will be given a preference, if you will, and a larger standing or a higher standing than the legislative process. Mr. Chairman, what happens in the legislative body? People get elected and they make decisions as representatives, but in a referendum it is the only time that we actually have the equivalent of a statewide town meeting. We have a situation in California where there were 5 million people and their voice was then drowned out by one individual.
Source
govinfo.gov
