Washington State

Close But No, Well, You Know

Joe Mathews — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:05:00 -0400

There are few things more painful -- and expensive than collecting a couple hundred thousand signatures on an initiative but not quite getting enough to qualify. But that's what happened in Washington state, where backers of an initiative to permit smoking in cigar bars and private clubs collected 213,000 signatures--but not the 225,000 required to make the November ballot.

Traffic-Stopping Measure Appears Headed to the Ballot

Joe Mathews — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:35:00 -0400

If this new statewide ballot initiative passes in Washington state, look for copy cat measures to show up in a state near you. Initiative 985 is a package of measures, including a requirement that traffic lights be synchronized and funding for a new anti-congestion fund. The initiative appears to have enough signatures to make the ballot.

TUESDAY ROUND UP: Colorado Corporate Crooks, and Suicide on the Street

Joe Mathews — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:51:00 -0400

NYT MISSES THE POINT IN COLORADO: The New York Times weighs in on the Colorado ballot initiative that would make corporate executives criminally responsible if their companies break the law. The Times focuses on the angry Qwest employees who are backing the measure, and misses the larger context. The initiative is part of a union-business battle that encompasses other measures in the state. The center of the fight is a right-to-work initiative, which has been countered by five recent initiatives filed by the United Food and Commercial Workers, best known for representing the people working in grocery stores.

RIGHT TO DIE ON THE STREET: Well, not yet. But the attacks have begun on the latest assisted suicide initiative from ex-Governor Booth Gardner. Petition gatherers, many from California, are already on the street gathering signatures. Anyone out there know the price?

DOG DEBATE: A debate breaks out over how many workers might be affected if a dog-track measure doesn't pass in Massachusetts.

LEAVE FUNDING HEADED TO BALLOT? A Washington state law giving parents five weeks off with pay to be with a new child is set to take effect in Oct. 2009. But there's no funding mechanism. A tax measure is likely headed to the Nov. 2009 ballot that would provide the funds, but that may be too late.

ALASKA, NATION UNTO ITSELF: Your blogger, in this new attempt to track ballot measures nationwide, continues to be amazed by how Alaska is governed. He's planning a trip there this summer to cover the August state elections. Here's an explanation of the tax cap in Fairbanks. He dares you to understand it.