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OLYMPIA — The initiative process, which when it plays out to the passage of a proposal by the voters is apparently sacrosanct, is a messy process at the beginning.
For $5 and some words typed into a word processor, almost anyone can file an initiative petition with the Secretary of State’s office.
Today, Dustin Reischman of Pullman filed a proposal to lower the state’s drinking age to 19. Before you can say it, no Reischman isn’t too young to by a six-pack at the local 7-11. He’s 22…which is still young enough to remember those dry late teen years.
Earlier this month, James Vaughn of Orting filed a proposal to replace the state seal featuring George Washington with the image of “a tapeworm in a three-piece suit.” Vaughn didn’t submit a drawing (thankfully) for his proposed seal switch.
Other initiatives, along with the more highly publicized Eyman-backed “give us back the supermajority for tax increase” proposal, a series of state sovereignty ideas and a legalized marijuana proposal, include one to require the teaching of the federal and state constitutions and the Declaration of Independence in state schools and another that would tighten up ID requirements for immigrants.
You can see all of the proposals by clicking here.
Jim Camden is a veteran political reporter for The Spokesman-Review.
Jonathan Brunt covers Spokane City Hall for The Spokesman-Review.
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jvaughn50 on February 10 at 9:19 p.m.
Dear Jim,
I made a comment and it does not appear to have posted. As a result, I am going to resubmit. It there are duplicates, I apologize.
Having said that, I want to thank you for the off handed comment, because it gives me the opportunity to tell my story. It starts out with humor and then the story begins. In this case it is a very serious story. Here is my press release.
I promise that I will check this blog daily and respond to each and every comment.
Greetings from Citizens for Economic Stimulus,
We are holding a contest to design a proposed Seal for the State of Washington. Initiative 1069 filing was leaked to the press and picked up by the Seattle Times and in a few short days has spread across the country and as far as the blogs in the United Kingdom.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2010962448_initiative_replace_state_seal.html
Now that Initiative 1069 has been recorded and assigned a number with the Secretary of State Elections, we are submitting our official press release. Feel free to post as a press release and in your blogs.
Jim Vaughn
Citizens for Economic Stimulus
253.241.9634
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
We created an initiative to replace our state seal from with the vignette of General George Washington as the central figure to a tapeworm dressed in a three piece suit attached to the lower intestine of the taxpayer as the central figure and encircling the vignette the words “Committed to sucking the life blood out of each and every tax payer.”
If you are like most people, your initial response is to chuckle or have a serious belly laugh. However, the sad truth is this is far from funny. Now that I have your attention, please spend a few minutes to read why I am serious about our government being fiscally responsible and to stop raising taxes.
Billions and trillions of dollars of debt is such an enormous amount of money that it does not seem quite real to the individual tax payer. This makes it easy for government officials to spend and spend and spend. However, the debt is real. As a result, it is time for our state government to quit raising taxes. We are not asking Olympia to more with less. We understand that it is time for Olympia to do less with less. It is time to prioritize spending and reduce government.
Ask yourself what happens when the economic stimulus money is spent and we have not created long term employment for our citizens that will allow us to repay our debt to China, Brazil, etc. We cannot expect them to lend us more money. As a result, the dollar will be devalued and we will see hyperinflation. It could result, in foreign countries refusing to trade with us. No money – No oil – we are back to horse and buggy days. This will not be the Great Depression, but the Greatest Depression.
The initiative has been assigned the number 1069 and we are having a contest for the design of the proposed seal and a design for bumper stickers. Upon completion of the contest 28 February, we will begin to sell bumper stickers as a show of force. We ask that you join us in our efforts to put pressure on Olympia to become fiscally responsible and to stop raising taxes as the governor had promised.
This is your chance to be part of a grass roots effort and have your voice heard not only in Olympia but send a message to Washington D.C. about government spending. Please send your designs for the seal and bumper sticker NLT 25 February, 2009 or support our efforts by ordering a $20 bumper sticker and/or sending a donation to:
Jim Vaughn
Citizens for Economic Stimulus
14416 168th Street
Orting, WA 98360
253.241.9645
Jvaughn50@comcast.net
jvaughn50 on February 10 at 9:23 p.m.
(5) Whereas Governor Gregoire in July of 2005 stated during a meeting with the Clark County High-Tech Council that she was looking for ways to reform the B&O tax to make it less onerous on business and four years later in February of 2009 in speech to the Association of Washington Business, Governor Gregoire stated that she would like to overhaul the business and occupation tax, calling the tax, “ill-conceived” and harmful to small businesses. Eight months later, in October of 2009, she came out with 23 revenue alternatives two of which are aimed at increasing the B&O Tax which earlier in the year she said was “ill-conceived” and harmful to small businesses.
(6) Whereas the citizens of our state are currently paying in excess of forty taxes and the State of Washington continues to invent new ways to tax the citizens by proposing twenty three revenue alternatives.
Section 2. RCW 1.20.080 is amended to read as follows:
The seal of the state of Washington shall be, a seal encircled with the words: “The Seal of the State of Washington,” with the vignette of General George Washington as the central figure, and beneath the vignette the figures “1889” and shall be composed as appears in the illustration below: (For the illustration, please refer to paperback RCW.) [1967 ex.s. c 65 § 1.]
Shall be changed to:
The Seal of the State of Washington shall be a seal encircled with the words: Committed to sucking the life blood out of each and every tax payer,” with the vignette of a tapeworm dressed in a three piece suit attached to the lower intestine of the taxpayer as the central figure. (For the illustration, it will be selected from submissions submitted by the tax payers.)