I-1366 update

Friday, August 14th, 2015

  I was there -- here's how it went in court this morning

       Opponents of I-1366 don't trust the voters.  If they did, they wouldn't be filing a don't-let-the-people-vote lawsuit.  If they thought they were gonna win in November, they wouldn't be so desperate, so frantic, so hysterical about preventing the people from voting on I-1366.

       Opponents know that voters are eager to protect themselves from Olympia's insatiable tax appetite.  They see the writing on the wall.

       So the only way they can win the vote is to prevent the vote.

        Let me just fast forward to the bottom line:  after listening to oral arguments for an hour, the judge said he'll publish his decision later this afternoon.  Whichever side loses will appeal to the state supreme court.  So his ruling is just the first step on a multi-step legal review.

        I will send everyone an email with the outcome (it might be late this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning).

        Me personally, I am very confident that we will prevail and the voters will get to vote on I-1366.  Why?  In our state's 100 year history, the courts have never -- not once -- prevented the people from voting on a statewide initiative that turned in the required signatures and was certified for the vote by the Secretary of State.  There have been 2 unanimous state supreme court rulings -- in 2005 and 2007 -- that rejected lawsuits just like this one, making clear that the voters' First Amendment right to vote on qualified initiatives would not be violated.

          Here's how it went this morning:  the opponents' attorney went first.  After him, the attorney for Secretary of State Kim Wyman went next.  And it ended with our attorney.  By far, our arguments were far superior.  It wasn't even close.

          But as we all know, anything can happen, especially in King County.

          It's obvious that this is a Hail Mary pass by I-1366's opponents.  They've realized that despite spending millions upon millions of dollars over the years, they've only been able to convince about a third of the voters that it should be easy to raise taxes.  Fortunately for taxpayers, almost two-thirds of voters want it to be tougher to raise taxes. 

         Because opponents of I-1366 can't win the vote, they're desperate to stop the vote.  The voters will be completely disenfranchised and their First Amendment rights negated if opponents succeed at blocking the vote on I-1366.    

         We're working as hard as we can to pass I-1366 in November.  Our antidemocratic opponents are trying to stop it.  It's clear that we need your support now more than ever.  Please help us (see below).
 
        If you like and appreciate our past, current, and future efforts on behalf of taxpayers and especially now that Initiative 1366 has qualified for the ballot, 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.

         Thank you.

Sincerely,
Tim Eyman,