Washington “initiative guru” Tim Eyman and a group of concerned citizens are in Olympia today delivering ballot title I-517.
Eyman says his “initiative protecting initiatives” would improve Washingtonians’ rights by setting penalties for interfering with or retaliating against signature gatherers and petition signers.
Eyman says that I-517 comes on the heels of local government and courts blocking recent coal train and red light-traffic camera initiatives from being voted upon.
And while the state only allows a few months to secure the 320 thousand signatures necessary to get an initiative on a ballot, Eyman says that the proposed legislation would extend that to one full year making it easier for grassroots organizers to compete with corporations, unions and billionaires.
