Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Jeff Wilson’s subscribers Jan. 10, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Wilson’s e-newsletters, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Our 2024 legislative session opened Monday – a short 60-day session with plenty to do. We can expect a continuation of last year’s debates on public safety, education and keeping Washington affordable. We can expect our friends from Seattle to propose higher taxes — they always do. But a month from now, the Legislature is going to be upstaged by the people of Washington, and everything we do is going to seem mighty small.

The people have forwarded a series of six initiatives to the Legislature. These initiatives challenge the biggest and boldest elements of the “progressive” agenda passed by our colleagues over the last few years – raising taxes, increasing gas prices, restricting law enforcement and more.

I won’t go into detail here. For right now, legislative rules prevent me from advocating a position on these initiatives in an e-newsletter like this one. We have to wait until the Secretary of State’s office has checked petitions and has certified that enough signatures have been submitted to place them before the Legislature. This is going to take a few weeks. But there is one thing I can tell you right now:

Isn’t it wonderful that in this state, the people have a right to speak?

I mention this because your right is under attack. Protecting the initiative process is one of my priorities in the 2024 Legislature.

Initiatives give power to the people

Washington is among 21 states nationally that give their people the right of initiative – that is, the right to submit legislation to the Legislature or directly to the ballot.

Exercising this right isn’t easy, and it shouldn’t be. Our Legislature is the proper place to deal with most issues. But sometimes there are matters the Legislature refuses to consider for reasons of self-interest, partisan politics and the influence of special-interest groups. Initiatives give the people another option. At present, advocates must collect 324,000 signatures from registered voters. This ensures only the most compelling measures will advance.

We have another safeguard in this state — we don’t allow voters to directly amend the constitution, so we don’t get the jumble of competing mandates we see in states like California. We often hear people say, “look how bad things have gotten in California.” This argument is mistaken. It can’t happen here.

In this state, when a measure is submitted to the Legislature, lawmakers have only a few choices. They can pass it as they would any other piece of legislation, without changes. They can reject it, in which case it proceeds to the ballot. And they can send an alternative to the ballot that would appear alongside it. (Things get tricky if people vote yes on both.)

A disgraceful attack

Unfortunately, the views of the people sometimes don’t get the respect they deserve. Some people believe government should be managed by those who “know best.” They believe that if voters wish to challenge their power, it must be out of ignorance. I am sad to report this view now prevails in the Washington Legislature. In the past, lawmakers often enacted legislation respecting the people’s wishes even when the courts overturned initiatives on technicalities. Today they see no need to bother. This is why we never got $30 car tabs, even though the people voted yes on this proposal in 2019.

Last year we saw another indication of disrespect. In 2007, the people voted for an initiative that gave them the right to cast “advisory votes” on any tax passed by the Legislature without voter approval. Washington voters proved even-handed, endorsing some taxes, expressing strong opposition on others. Yet our colleagues got tired of regular rebukes from the people they represent. Last year they passed a bill to eliminate advisory votes. They called them “confusing.” They didn’t want to hear from you.

A new threat emerged last fall when signatures were being gathered on this year’s ‘Big Six’ initiatives. The state Democratic Party and the American Civil Liberties Union, of all organizations, urged supporters to call a hotline to report wherever signatures were being gathered. We heard numerous reports statewide about activists sent to harass signature gatherers and people who wished to sign petitions.  Never have we seen such a well-organized effort to squelch the people’s voice.   

Bill protects people’s voice

That’s why I have introduced Senate Bill 5820. This bill establishes a 25-foot buffer zone around signature gathering activities, and prohibits interference within those zones. This proposal clarifies state law that already prohibits intimidation of signature gatherers, threats and other corrupt practices. The buffer zone makes the rule much easier to enforce.

I am saddened that a bill like this one is necessary. I am astounded that a group like the ACLU would impede the exercise of people’s civil liberties. Already we are hearing from some “progressive” groups that this somehow interferes with their right to protest. They can protest all they like. All we’re saying is they need to keep their distance. Washington has had a law like this one on the books for years, protecting people waiting to vote at polling places from “electioneering.”

The people’s right of initiative is as sacrosanct as the right to vote, and it deserves protection. If people want to defeat initiatives, let them do it with the strength of their arguments, not in this disgraceful way.

Here to serve you

As this legislative session begins, let me remind you — you are the reason I am here. I hope you will stay in touch. Over the next 60 days, I’ll be sending you regular updates about the issues of importance to southwest Washington. But I want you to know you can call on me. If you have a problem with a state agency, or a concern with the direction of state government, please send me an email, drop a letter in the mail, or give my office a call. My most important duty is to serve you.

 

 

 

 

Sen. Jeff Wilson, 19th Legislative District

Contact me!

Telephone: (360) 786-7636

Email: Jeff.Wilson@leg.wa.gov

Mailing address: P.O. Box 40419 /Olympia, WA 98504

Leave a message on the Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000

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