Opinion: Initiatives will remain on ballots

Opinion: Washington state initiatives will remain on the November ballot following a Supreme Court ruling, as highlighted by Nancy Churchill in her Dangerous Rhetoric column.

In her weekly column, Nancy Churchill addresses the initiatives before voters on the November general election ballot

Nancy Churchill
Dangerous Rhetoric

Last Friday (Aug. 9), the Washington State Supreme Court heard a case that argued the secretary of state had not properly validated signatures on the seven citizen’s initiatives submitted this year. The plaintiffs were seeking an injunction to keep four of the initiatives off this fall’s ballot.

You may recall that three initiatives were passed during the legislative session last spring, and four other initiatives are scheduled to appear on our ballots for the fall general election. With the stroke of a pen, the Supreme Court justices COULD have prevented the initiatives from appearing on our November ballots. Fortunately for the voters, the justices ruled against the plaintiffs, Defend Washington and Washington Conservation Action Education Fund.

Any means necessary

The powerful progressive groups fighting against the initiatives want to maintain power over the voters no matter what. Let’s Go Washington founder Brian Heywood released a statement that said “Their latest move is a blatant attempt to silence the 1.2 million [unique] voters who said they want choice on the ballot this November. Hanauer and friends are afraid if the voters have a chance to vote this November, it would disrupt the special interest profiteering pipeline they have created… Vote Yes, Pay Less, and let’s fix what’s broken.”

Ironically, the same powerful people who support mass illegal immigration, all mail-in voting and no voter ID, are now ALSO arguing that the signature verification process used by the Secretary of State for the initiatives was NOT STRICT ENOUGH!

It’s not about principals or good governance. Power-hungry progressives will use any means necessary to maintain power and control. When they think no voter ID will will elections, that’s what they fight for. When they think MORE voter verification will stop initiatives, that’s what they fight for. If progressives thought strict voter ID would win election and allow them to maintain their control of state government, Washington would have the most strict voter ID laws in the country.

Ferguson and Hobbs conspire to disenfranchise the people

Oddly, the initiative sponsors, including Let’s Go Washington founder Bryan Heywood and the organization’s attorneys, were unaware of the case before the state Supreme Court which was about to decide the fate of the initiatives until a reporter called them for comment.

The original case was filed against the secretary of state, Steve Hobbs. The attorney general, Bob Ferguson is the attorney who defends the secretary of state. Washington Gun Law President William Kirk pointed out in his podcast that Ferguson and Hobbs should have contacted Let’s Go Washington or its attorneys to let them know about the lawsuit in order to get their assistance in defending the initiative process.

“I can assure you that if any other attorney general had been in that spot, and absolutely and positively wanted to make sure the will of the Washington voter was properly defended, they would have got Let’s Go Washington involved in it,” Kirk added.

It’s as if Ferguson and Hobbs were conspiring with the plaintiffs to disenfranchise the millions of voters who participated in the initiative process. It’s a disgrace. If Bob Ferguson won’t properly defend the rights of the voters, is he the right person to become Washington’s next governor? Should Steve Hobbs remain as the Secretary of State? I think not.

Vote yes, pay less

Fortunately, the four initiatives will appear on our general election ballot. Just remember the phrase “Vote Yes, Pay Less,” and don’t let deceptive advertising trick you into voting against them.

I-2066 will stop the natural gas ban and protect energy choice. “This measure would require utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers; prevent state approval of rate plans requiring or incentivizing gas service termination, restricting access to gas service, or making it cost-prohibitive; and prohibit the state energy code, localities, and air pollution control agencies from penalizing gas use.”

I-2109 will repeal the capital gains tax and protect small business owners and innovators. Small business owners who take risks, work hard, and create jobs for our communities should not be punished for their success and growth. Taxation is theft. Vote yes and pay less.

I-2124 will allow workers to opt out of another bad tax supporting the state-run long-term care insurance scheme. Workers should be able to choose to participate in the government program, rather than be forced to participate in a program that they may not even be able to use. Remember to vote yes, and pay less.

Finally, I-2117 will stop the hidden gasoline tax which was imposed by the Climate Commitment Act. “This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, including ‘cap and trade’ or ‘cap and tax’ programs, regardless of whether the resulting increased costs are imposed on fuel recipients or fuel suppliers. It would repeal sections of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act as amended, including repealing the creation and modification of a ‘cap and invest’ program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by specific entities.” If you want more money in your wallet after a fill-up, and lower prices on goods in your grocery store, vote yes to pay less.

The special interest groups are terrified of YOUR vote, and will be working hard until the election to confuse you and discourage you from voting YES on the initiatives. For all initiatives, vote yes to pay less.

Nancy Churchill is a writer and educator in rural eastern Washington State, and the state committeewoman for the Ferry County Republican Party. She may be reached at DangerousRhetoric@pm.me. The opinions expressed in Dangerous Rhetoric are her own. Dangerous Rhetoric is available on thinkspot, Rumble and Substack.