Washington

2009

Progressives won two important victories in Washington. A revenue cap measure or so-called TABOR initiative (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) was rejected by voters 55-45%. In addition, voters approved (51-49%) the state’s recently enacted domestic partnership law.

The TABOR initiative was put forward by Tim Eyman, a "professional initiative salesman."   The measure sought to cap both state and local revenue and spending.  Eyman has a history of scandal including cases of profiteering off his ballot efforts.  In previous campaigns, records showed Eyman had transferred money -- a lot of money -- from his political action committee to a for profit corporation he had created with the same name. This year, Eyman has sought to keep secret the signature petitions that placed the initiative on the ballot. According to an analysis of numbers provided by the Washington Secretary of State’s Office, signature gathering campaigns associated with Eyman have turned in more than half a million invalid.

With the economy the number one issue on voters’ minds, this defeat signified that the tea party anger that had been hyped for months doesn’t translate into majorities and election victories.  It’s also more proof that the right wing base, which used the bleak fiscal picture as an opportunity to ratchet down even harder on states and lock in recession budgets, remains out of sync with moderate and independent voters.

Referendum 71, was a right-wing effort that asked voters to repeal the domestic partnership law originally passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. The law added registered domestic partnerships to all statutes that apply to married couples, and was a culmination of efforts to end the longtime discrimination against the LGBT community as related to housing, hiring, hospital visitation, child custody and many other legal matters. 

Video reports have revealed that the anti-equality campaign used deception to obtain signatures from voters for their petitions. Thus, they have refused to release its signature petitions but a federal appeals court ruled that Washington's secretary of state must release the names and addresses of people who signed petitions because disclosure furthers the public interest in preserving the integrity of elections. A majority of the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked state officials from releasing the names of people who signed the petition while they consider whether or not to accept an appeal.

Without the signature petitions being released, it cannot be determined with certainty that in fact that initiative properly qualified for the ballot in the first place or if ballot initiative abuse, fraud and deception were used in the signature collection process.

Two measures qualified for the statewide ballot.
One measure was a citizen-petitioned initiative, while another was a people’s veto.

 

1 statutory initiative qualified.

Initiative Measure 1033: Investment/Taxes (TABOR)

Investment/Taxes: This measure would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property tax levies.
Proponents: Voters Want More Choices, http://permanent-offense.org
Opponents: No on 1033, http://www.no1033.com
FAILED 57%-43%

1 popular referendum qualified.

Referendum Measure 71: LGBT Equality

LGBT Equality: This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.
Proponents: http://approvereferendum71.org
Opponents: http://protectmarriagewa.com
PASSED 52%-48%

2010

2008

For more 2008 election information, click here.

 

For additional information please check with the Washington Secretary of State: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/