Keep petition law as it is — private

The proposed HB 2418 makes personal information on petitions more easily accessible (digitally) to various factions, and is being sold under the Public Records Act (1972) and transparency. Proponents contend petitions are tantamount to making law, therefore must be completely public.

Realistically, signing a petition is tantamount to a primary election, checking the merit among the requisite percentage of voters before being allowed on the ballot.

We already have provisions for oversight and validation by both advocates and opponents of petitions.

The real basis for HB 2418 is a desire by factions to initiate a “dialogue” with all those who might oppose them. Intimidation? “Help us identify and take action against those who want to deny us our equal rights,” doesn’t sound very neighborly or benign, does it? During the declining civility of our society, passing 2418 is like making a box of matches available to a few adults and a great many irresponsible children.

A compromise for “dialogue” and protecting citizens’ information would allow a group to submit their form letter to the state, as mediator, where it would be checked for offensive/intimidating remarks (similar to vanity plates), and mass mailed. The state could charge the group overall cost plus 20 percent.

Jeff Wirrick

Bothell