Eyman’s ‘crisis’ all too real

Evan Smith’s article titled “Eyman creates a crisis to fight,” which so proudly declares “Tim Eyman is fighting a crisis — a crisis he’s made up,” seems to be in error. (Enterprise, Jan. 4)

Since I and 100 others attended the House Bill 2019 and House Bill 2601 hearing, you must feel like a fool; or perhaps you don’t consider accuracy important.

I strongly oppose both House Bill 2019 and House Bill 2601; they put needless restrictions on our constitutional right to the initiative process.

There is no problem with the process, so “solutions” such as these bills are not needed. These bills have no reason to justify their existence and create problems where none exist. Any bill should provide for equal treatment of all citizens, but these grant exemptions for unions and public employees. Why? To rig the initiative process might be a reasonable conclusion.

The bills to make the initiative process “better” have provisions exempting employees that collect signatures (union members), but not professional signature gatherers that are contract employees. Similar bills have already been ruled unconstitutional.

I find it offensive that a “public servant” could even suggest any bill that would in any way impede the initiative process. If attacking the initiative process is important enough to be on any committee agenda, quite honestly, our elected legislators should examine their priorities and motives. The people certainly expect more.

Next time get the facts right; they matter, they really do.

Michael E. Dunmire