As Jon Stahl points out on Evergreen Politics, Emmett O’Connell is just jonesing for 8.5 x 11 inch initiative petitions. Current state law dictates the minimum size of petitions as 11 x 17.
O’Connell argues that allowing petitions on standard, letter size paper would democratize the process, allowing anybody to just print off a petition and start collecting signatures… making signature gathering all the more affordable to grassroots organizations.
Sure would. And it would also make signature gathering less expensive to profiteers like Tim Eyman, partisan propaganda mills like the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, and right-wing, pro-business front groups like the Washington Farm Bureau.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against letter-sized petitions as part of a broader initiative reform package. In fact, I-831 (my “Tim Eyman is a Horse’s Ass” initiative) was one of the first initiative campaigns to make PDF versions of its petition available for download, and I lamented at the time the hassle of meeting the paper-size requirement. But anything that makes it easier to gather signatures without forcing sponsors to be more honest and responsible, is simply going to multiply the number of dishonest and irresponsible initiatives.
I recently suggested a number of reforms to the initiative process, and it would certainly be worth adding O’Connell’s proposal to the list. But enacting this change on its own will only serve to make our existing initiative industry more efficient and profitable.
Good points! One of the things that I like keeping in mind is the axiom that “If (we) are concerned about wealthy individuals and special interest being the only ones using the (initiative) process, then they should make the process more accessible to those individuals without access to large sums of money.”
The reason Eyman’s ideas gain credibility is that he can put money behind them and hire paid signature gatherers. If signing an initiative became something you did at the suggestion of a friend rather than someone out from of Albertsons, people might be less likely to sign petitions out front of Albertsons.
Hey Goldy — when are you gonna post today’s open thread? Yesterday’s open thread is full, and I have a couple news stories — (1) a government attorney fucked up the death penalty case against Moussouai, and (2) McClatchey Newspapers bought out Knight-Ridder, the 49.5% minority owner of the Seattle Times.
Goldy, true initiative reform would remove the retraints on free speech that currently inhibit the initiative process. Tim Eyman IS a horse’s ass, and Washingtonians should be allowed to pass a law making it official!
I guess most folks reading this will be against the intitative process, but initiatives can be a good thing when a lot of people get pissed at a government for not doing anything about an issue. I think Tim Eyman’s latest initiative is a waster of time for all of us, though.
We arn’t necessarily against the initiative process – just hte form of it we have currently. As Goldy says, it needs serious reform. Theoretically it’s a method to implement things that have popular support, but the way it is now, it’s largely used by well-funded special interests as a method to go around the legislature. At its worst, it’s an industry and a regular job, which is why there’s so much Eyman-hate here.
In a conservative state you could probably use the iniative to officially call Tim Eyeman a big homo.
…but not a horse’s ass….
Despite all the theories which abound about what to do about the initiative process —- I don’t think a critical mass of political leaders or the public – they do no think much is wrong.
Sorry to pop the balloon.
Paid signature gathering is honorable work.. If you can pay a pollster, a media hack, all the other elements of a campaign – then why depricate the service business of getting sigs?
And the Supremes agree – all ok. Old issue, been decided.
The malaise of the legislature to not do anything about major problems, and to tune out the public has led to more initiatives.
It is a funded legistative process that now aguments Olympia.
If Gregoire continues the really exciting problem solving push – what will be left?
I can’t think of a single tweak of the system that could be construed as voter friendly. And suspect Olympia will not touch anything at all.
Sorry Goldy, need to change the ititiative process by initiative.
People’s rights at stake, people’s vote wil be the final word.
And most are ideas that are filed and die on the vine, gthering no support or money.
Lucy – fortunately there is no such thing. Official big mouth – sure. Official homo – huh? That is a valued leader, Rep. Ed Murray.
Offical lists are a bit scary – of course the intended slur is OK to you, but not to me.
I do not think Timmie is homo – but if I knew, I think it would be his business.
Bob is correct–
If gregoire keeps doing what the Republicans and business community want, she will be just fine!
Bob is also correct about too much fucking around with the initiative process….change it by Initiative. Go for it Goldy!
re 9: Bob: I meant “homogeonized”. You know — like , homo milk!
I am a horrible speller…..forgive me grammar Gods.
Bob, but surely you must agree that filing initiatives as a means of employment is screwed up.
Much of what Eymans has done is a batch of junk. And he is an arrogant rank of rankest media hound and opertunist.
Buy so are cadres of over paid lobbyists – and all the other apparati / jetsom / floatsom of the political processes in Olympia…..
He has developed well paid niche, like it or not, and he will not go away soon.
Frankly, it is surprising that what he is doing is recenly perfected, a new innovation to the process.. The slimy business he has created was there for the taking.
I think one issue regarding size is the need to make sure the type can be seen and understood by anyone presented with a petition to sign. I would rather have a larger format than have the fine print become too small far all to read with ease.
15 – Good idea for improvement.
I agree completely – some sense of legible, type size definition as a required common standard, as part of real full disclosure – vs. who can read the damn thing.
There is a famouse case out there in King county. A referendum was filed to take back the newly passed County civil rights ordinance. Same old and tired anti gay stuff. Fifteen years ago.
The bigots printed their own forms with a fold down flap that covered the ballot title and summary. The flap was horrible anti gay, over the top stuff.
Proponets got their signatures and turned them in. A court challenge was filed, and a very conservative judge ruled that by covering the ballot title they had tricked people and he threw out their whole signature drive. His pointed ruling called the effort of the bigots — boarderline fraud.
The deflated phobes did not try again. That ruling may be historic because it took guts for the judge to say to these people start over, do the form correctly, and no tricks.
goldy,
Must piss you off to live in a land with laws and a Constitution and allows citizen initiatives… ah to be a Soviet and make your own laws….
I remember that bob. Hands off Washington and all that.
Yes, a bit earlier. Hands off Washington was the model of its day for statewide organizing.
The HOW how to organize manuel went all over the nation.
GBS, I leave for 6 days, and I count 24 posts from you concerning JCH. Classic!! I own you, bitch boy!!