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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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Here’s your quick guide to WA ballot measures

Here’s your quick guide to WA ballot measures

Here’s a quick once-over from our state Elections Division (recap only, not the fancy wording from the Attorney General wordsmiths): Office of the Secretary of State 2010 Ballot Measures Overview Initiatives on the Ballot Initiative Measure 1098 – State Income Tax on High Income Earners This measure would tax “adjusted gross income” above $200,000 (individuals) and $400,000 (joint-filers), reduce state property tax levies, reduce certain business and occupation taxes, and direct any increased revenues to education and health. Initiative Measure…

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`Direct democracy’ — A six-pack for 2010

`Direct democracy’ — A six-pack for 2010

It’s a bumper crop of initiatives apparently headed to the fall ballot.  On Friday, the deadline day for submitting petitions, three more campaigns brought in hundreds of thousands of signatures. This brought to six the number of initiatives to the people for the year, tying the modern record set in 2000. The all-time record was the seven on the 1914 ballot, almost a century ago, the first year we could use the initiative and referendum process. Sponsors of two anti-tax…

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Initiative goldrush: a record 77 filed (so far)

Initiative goldrush: a record 77 filed (so far)

Washington’s initiative process is going gangbusters this year.  We’ve easily broken the previous record for most initiatives filed in a single year, with 77 filed already, eclipsing the 60 filed in 2003 and the 57 in 2008. We could easily meet or beat the record for most initiatives making the ballot, too, since  well-heeled individuals and groups are sponsoring some of these measures and presumably can afford to hire paid signature-gatherers in heavy enough numbers to make the ballot.  It…

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