Our initiative guru, Tim Eyman, is at it again with initiative I-517. It doesn’t matter if it is good for the state as long as it is good for filling the coffers and stroking his ego. Red light cameras, don’t care if it saves lives and keeps drivers honest, he will fight it. We can thank every “run light” accident and the carnage to his efforts.
Now with his latest, he wants an extra six months to collect signatures and those who may be accused of harassing a petitioner to face criminal charges. What qualifies as harassment? Could it be asking if you are a Washington state resident or how much are you receiving per signature? Could it be that his initiatives are unpopular in the state and unwanted by the majority and he needs more time and less questioning?
So, I will be more than happy to support his latest with these qualifications: 1) you have to be a Washington state resident to be a signature gatherer. 2) You have to volunteer and not receive payment for your efforts.
I know of people who come out of state to gather signatures and do it for a living. I have walked into a hotel lobby filled with initiative gatherers getting their “pep talk” with the leader saying if they need money he will front it and where the best places to go to get their signatures. Wal-mart seemed like a top spot. They don’t care what effect it may have in our state, they only care for the money they receive.
This is an affront to our state government and our citizens. But I’m not surprised “uninformed voters” still vote against their own self interest. Perhaps Tim would consider moving to Texas where he may be more appreciated.
Stuart Clift
Lake Stevens
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