Hughes v. Treadwell

OPINION

STOWERS, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Richard Hughes, the Alaska Miners Association, and the Council of Alaska Producers (collectively referred to as "Hughes") challenged Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell's certification of a ballot initiative that would require final legislative approval for any large-scale metallic sulfide mining operation located within the Bristol Bay watershed. Hughes argued that the initiative violates the constitutional prohibitions on appropriation and enacting local or special legislation by initiative. Following oral argument we issued an order affirming the…