Gregoire opposes 3 initiatives

Published 9:00 pm Monday, July 31, 2006

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire vowed Monday to help defeat three prospective ballot measures with conservative roots, including Tim Eyman’s troubled third run at $30 car tabs.

Gregoire, a Democrat, also said she’s still weighing a fourth ballot measure – this one from the political left – that would require a renewable energy standard for large utilities.

In a news conference, Gregoire reinforced her opposition to Initiative 933, the Washington Farm Bureau measure that says government should pay landowners for regulations that damage property values, or waive those laws.

Gregoire said she sympathizes with the concerns behind the measure and will work with the Legislature to find a solution, particularly for preserving farmland in Washington.

“I want to do that,” Gregoire said, but “this piece of legislation is poorly drafted, far too broad.”

Farm Bureau spokesman Dean Boyer said I-933 supporters are tired of getting no response from the Legislature.

“(Gregoire) certainly had an opportunity the past two years to come up with proposals that would address the situation, and she didn’t,” Boyer said.

Gregoire also opposes Eyman’s Initiative 917 and the small-business-endorsed Initiative 920, which would repeal Washington’s estate tax.

The estate tax measure would siphon money away from a special account pegged to education, which is needed to maintain voter-mandated limits on class sizes, Gregoire said.

“I think it’s appropriate that those who have prospered in this state contribute to the work-force needs of tomorrow, and that’s to ensure they leave a legacy by making sure our children have the kind of quality education we need to compete,” Gregoire said.

Eyman’s measure is in danger after failing a preliminary check of signatures. Secretary of State Sam Reed now is conducting a full examination of Eyman’s petitions, which could take until September to complete.

Gregoire said Eyman’s measure would harm transportation by reducing money for construction.

“I hope it doesn’t qualify,” she said. If it does qualify, Gregoire said, she will fight it the same way she opposed efforts to repeal state gas tax increases last year.

Calls to Eyman and the estate-tax campaign were not immediately returned Monday.

In other matters, Gregoire:

* Pleaded for residents of the small community of Stehekin to create a local fire district, which could be used to marshal state resources in case of a wildfire. A fire recently burned close to the village, which is in a remote part of north-central Washington at the north end of Lake Chelan. Gregoire said she released state money and equipment to battle the blaze but wasn’t technically supposed to, since the area’s lack of governance puts it in a jurisdictional “no man’s land.”

* Denounced any games being played in the campaigns for state Supreme Court justice. Incumbent Justice Susan Owens already faces former state Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Kent, and has picked up two last-minute challengers with common surnames: Michael Johnson and Richard Smith, both of Seattle. Both have been conspicuously absent from the public arena since filing.

The state Republican Party called the new candidacies “dirty tricks” meant to confuse voters. Gregoire is supporting a campaign group that backs Owens, but said she opposes the type of trickery being alleged and had no foreknowledge of the Smith and second Johnson campaigns.

“I don’t know that there is a game going on. No one’s been able to confirm that to me. But if there is a game going on, shame on you,” Gregoire said.