Seen any good initiatives lately?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : I-695 Thirty Dollar License Tab Initiative : One Thread

Populism kind of waxes and wanes, if you look at history. It looks like it is BACK. And if some of these initiatives CAN get the signatures to get on the ballot, it may well dramatically increase voter participation. That alone, will give the special interests fits. It's a lot harder to buy or pressure a majority of the people than it is a handful of bureaucrats and politicians.

As session ends, citizens turn to initiatives

by Justin Hopkins Seattle Times Olympia bureau OLYMPIA - When the lawmakers leave, it will be the citizens' turn to try to pass legislation.

With the deadline for filing petition signatures less than four months away, nearly 30 initiatives already have been filed with the Secretary of State's office, dealing with issues from property-tax relief to improving education to banning smoking in public buildings. And more are expected.

Tim Eyman, local hero of citizen activists, is sponsoring two initiatives to the people. One, "Son of I-695," seeks to undo all tax and fee increases imposed by state and local governments between July 2, 1999 and Dec. 31, 1999. His other initiative would eliminate car-pool lanes and transfer money from mass transit to road construction.

Many initiatives grow out of frustration.

Jim Spady, Dick's Drive-in executive, and his wife, Fawn Spady, were in Olympia this year pushing a proposal to establish charter schools. When the bill died in the House, the couple immediately filed a 2000 initiative and began gathering signatures.

They say they're discouraged by lawmakers who, they say, are listening to teacher unions rather than voters. A charter-school ballot measure failed in 1996, but the Spadys think public sentiment is with them.

"The only way to defeat a special interest in this state is to pass an initiative," said Fawn Spady.

Other proposed measures include: prohibiting smoking in all public buildings, allowing citizens to build roadside memorials and changing property-tax regulation.

Some initiatives, such as one to fine people who drive "automobiles and trucks with irritating daytime running lights," are really little more than a policy statement. But if legislators can introduce some quirky ideas, it seems only fair that citizens can, too.

-- Craig Carson (craigcar@crosswinds.net), March 10, 2000


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