On March 4th, Decorah residents voted no on a referendum which would’ve allowed the city to establish a municipal electricity utility. This referendum required at least 50% approval to pass. The unofficial vote tally shows 53.6% of Decorah residents voted no. This is an increase from the last time this referendum was brought to the table in 2018, when it failed by a mere three votes.
Should this referendum have passed, the government takeover would’ve resulted in citizens having to front the costs of a highly intricate government program. Provenses like Los Angles have shown that when utilities become regulated by the government, costs skyrocket. Fortunately, Decorah dodged this bullet.
Decorah isn’t the only town to fall under the threat of this proposed government takeover. Fortunately, even towns in blue states like New York and Maine have consistently voted against this proposal. The consistent opposition to this referendum across the board underscores the deeply bipartisan desire to keep government out of people’s lives.
The result of this vote is a win for private energy companies and energy consumers alike. It is a win for liberty and a direct message to the left that citizens want the government to leave them alone. Liberals in Decorah cannot bring this referendum back to the table for another four years. That doesn’t mean however that communities around the country may not face similar ballot measures. Should this referendum be brought to the table in your community, vote no and keep the lights on.