WA Initiative process intact

Thursday, April 16th, 2015 Initiative process survives legislative assault          Congratulations.  Thanks to your efforts, all anti-initiative bills are dead.  Yesterday at 5 pm was "policy bill cut-off" and so now we can proudly announce that all bills attacking the initiative process did not pass.          That means the citizens' initiative process has survived this year's legislative session.          Who deserves credit for the death of all those horrible bills, especially SB 5715 (that was the bill that gave the governor the power to slap a warning label on any initiative he didn't like): *  All of you -- your emails and phone calls to legislators were earnest, informative, and effective. *  House Republicans and a surprising number of House Democrats (a special "pat on the back" for Reps. Jeff Holy, Luanne van Werven, and Matt Shea who diligently worked with R's and D's in the House to kill it) *  The ACLU and their powerful statement against SB 5715 (it read, in part:  "We are opposed to the interjection of government sponsored speech on one side or the other of a political debate.  ... The State should not use its power to tilt the electoral playing field.") *  The Walla Walla Union Bulletin, Kitsap Sun, Tri-City Herald, and the Olympian -- their editorials were impactful. *  John Carlson, Brian Sonntag, Steven Nielson, and Scott Roberts -- their testimony was powerful and persuasive. *  Senators Pam Roach, Don Benton, Kirk Pearson, Brian Dansel, Mike Padden, Doug Ericksen, Mike Baumgartner, and Marko Liias -- they tried their best to stop it in the Senate.          In response to your emails and phone calls, House Republicans and a surprising number of House Democrats worked really hard behind-the-scenes to stop SB 5715.  They deserve an enthusiastic thank you from all of us.          Send an email RIGHT NOW to all 98 House members -- both Democrats and Republicans -- that says something like this (feel free to add more, tell 'em what you think): "Thank you for listening to the people and stopping anti-initiative bill SB 5715 (3 fatal flaws:  http://soundpolitics.com/archives/016355.html ).  I am thrilled that the House refused to rubberstamp this horrible Senate Bill.  You did the right thing.  I ask you to maintain your opposition to SB 5715 next year too.  Leave our initiative process alone."              By working together, we protected the initiative process from this horrendous legislative assault.  It just goes to show that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.              Now it's time for everyone to redouble their efforts regarding I-1366, the 2/3-For-Taxes Constitutional Amendment Initiative.  Success is the only option with the signature drive for I-1366.   Please help us make it happen.           If you support our efforts to protect taxpayers and you want to ensure the success of our new initiative, please send us a donation for $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, $2500, $5000 or more (there are no limits on how much can be given).  You can go to our website right now - www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com and make a secure on-line contribution by PayPal or VISA or M/C.  OR, you can print this form, fill it out, and return it with a check or credit card information. Please donate TODAY.         We’ve done so many amazing things over the past 16 years, but that's only been possible thanks to successful benefactors like you.  We ask you to please help us help taxpayers.  Thank you. Sincerely, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan & Mike Fagan,   Fighting for Taxpayers for 16 years, 425-493-9127, www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com