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Tag: Washington initiatives

‘Raise Up Wa’ initiative would boost min-wage

‘Raise Up Wa’ initiative would boost min-wage

A citizen coalition has filed an initiative proposal to boost the state minimum wage to $13.50 over four years, and expand paid sick leave. A throng of supporters filed their “Raise Up Washington” initiative at the Office of Secretary of State on Monday, just two hours before the Legislature convened.  Backers will need 246,372 valid signatures of registered Washington voters by July 8 in order to qualify for the fall statewide ballot. The state Elections Division suggests bringing in at…

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I-732 sponsors turn in 243K signatures

I-732 sponsors turn in 243K signatures

I-732 sponsor Yoram Bauman (center) talks to media and supporters after he and others turned in signatures for the ballot measure. Sponsors of an initiative to the Legislature to impose a carbon emission tax on certain fossil fuels submitted what the campaign estimated at more than 243,000 signatures Thursday at the state Elections Division office in Olympia. Initiative 732 sponsor Yoram Bauman says his team so far has collected about 294,000 signatures and hopes to gather a total of 330,000…

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Initiative season opens with an Eyman blockbuster

Initiative season opens with an Eyman blockbuster

Washington’s initiative season is open, and much of the early attention is on an attempt by initiative activist Tim Eyman to use a heavy hammer to persuade lawmakers to submit a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds supermajority for all taxes passed in Olympia. The hammer? If his Initiative 1325 qualifies for the ballot and passes this fall, it would impose an annual $1 billion cut in the state sales tax if legislators refuse to put the constitutional amendment on…

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Final signatures delivered for pro-gun initiative

Final signatures delivered for pro-gun initiative

One day after sponsors of a gun-control initiative turned in their second and final batch of signatures to our Elections Division, supporters of a competing gun measure submitted one more box of signatures Friday afternoon. Sponsors of Initiative 591 delivered what they said were 5,000 signatures Friday after submitting about 340,000 signatures in late November. The measure, filed last May, would prohibit government agencies from confiscating guns or other firearms from citizens without due process, or from requiring background checks…

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WA initiative season opens with Eyman & GMO labeling

WA initiative season opens with Eyman & GMO labeling

Washington’s second century of “direct democracy” has opened. Sponsors of two initiatives to the Legislature submitted boxloads of petitions Thursday in support of measures dealing with the initiative process itself and requiring labeling of genetically engineered foodstuffs. Sponsors of both measures submitted what they described as 340,000 or more signatures, and thus appear virtually assured of validation during the random sampling process that begins after the petitions are imaged for safekeeping and potential public records release by the State Archives….

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Charter school fans file statewide initiative

Charter school fans file statewide initiative

Supporters of public charter schools have filed an 11th-hour initiative bid to authorize up to 40 charters over the next five years, to be operated by “qualified nonprofit organizations approved by the state.”  Sponsor is Tania de Sa Campos of Seattle, with the League of Education Voters, part of a coalition backing the plan. The text and contact information are here: Submitted date: 5/22/2012 1:56 PM Public Contact Information: 2734 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 [email protected] View Complete Text…

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Centennial celebration: WA initiative process turns 100 in 2012

Centennial celebration: WA initiative process turns 100 in 2012

Secretary Reed draws a smile out of Tim Eyman Secretary of State Sam Reed and the Foley Institute at Washington State University teamed up Friday for a centennial celebration of Washington’s initiative process being approved by the voters. Panelists described the historic sweep of a hundred years of  “direct democracy” being used to pass some of the state’s landmark pieces of legislation — and talked about the growing expense of qualifying for the ballot, the rising role of well-heeled interests,…

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Marijuana Initiative 502 certified to Legislature/ballot

Marijuana Initiative 502 certified to Legislature/ballot

Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office has certified Initiative to the Legislature 502, decriminalizing marijuana and regulating it and taxing it much like liquor.  Sponsors submitted enough signatures to assure consideration by the Legislature and, failing success there, a statewide vote on the General Election ballot. A signature-check by the State Elections Division, using a random sample, determined that sponsors had nearly 278,000 valid signatures, easily enough to cover the minimum 241,153 required. The measure was provisionally certified to…

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Big bucks: New report shows $20m for initiatives

Big bucks: New report shows $20m for initiatives

The Washington Public Disclosure Commission reports that state initiative efforts have drawn over $20 million in contributions.  This includes the $10 million raised by Stop the Food & Beverage Tax Hikes, promoters of Initiative 1107, which would roll back recently adopted taxes on pop, bottled water, and candy.  Most of the money and in-kind contributions came from the American Beverage Association. The commission said Washington Citizens for Liquor Reform, backers of I-1105, brought in $2 million from two sources.  This…

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Initiative checks done, I-1107 qualifies

Initiative checks done, I-1107 qualifies

The state Elections Division announced Wednesday afternoon that sponsors for Initiative 1107 submitted enough voter signatures to make the November ballot. Secretary of State Sam Reed is expected to officially certify I-1107 Thursday. This measure would repeal new taxes on candy, pop, bottled water and certain other products. I-1107 is the last of six initiatives cleared for the ballot by the Office of Secretary of State this month. Each needed at least 241,153 valid voter signatures to qualify, and all…

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