Proposed Initiatives to the Legislature - 1999

The following is a list of proposed initiatives to the Legislature filed to date with the Office of the Secretary of State. To be certified, a petition must contain the signatures of at least 179,248 registered voters. The deadline for filing petition signatures for the following initiatives is 5:00 p.m. December 31, 1999. Questions regarding the content of initiatives should be directed to the sponsor(s).

NOTE

Initiative numbers are not assigned until the proposal has been reviewed by the state Code Reviser and the sponsor has submitted the final language of the proposed initiative. The content of initiatives is described as general "subject matter" pending the issuance of an official ballot title and summary by the state Attorney General.

Assigned Number: 220 Filed: 03/23/1999 Sponsors Mr. Patrick M. Crawford Public Contact Information: P. O. Box 161 Littlerock, WA 98556 Phone: (360) 357-7536	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would limit the salaries of government officials to four times the average annual income for Washington citizens. Government officials would have no limitation period for prosecution on job-related matters, and their pension rights would be revoked. Managers would be required to take polygraph tests to detect falsification of reports. A citizen panel would be authorized to recover wasted funds. Employment security appeal tribunals would consist of three citizens chosen from the jury pool. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 221 Filed: 03/15/1999 Sponsors Mr. Maximus T. Englerius Public Contact Information: P. O. Box 2622 Seattle, WA 98111 Phone: (206) 322-5500	Ballot Title Shall the Office of State Inspector General be created, with authority to conduct hearings, order corrective action, levy fines for wrongdoing, and revise govern-ment decisions? Ballot Measure Summary This measure would create an Office of Inspector General, headed by a Director elected for a four-year term. The Office would be authorized to: conduct hearings; make fact findings; issue cease and desist warnings; require corrective action and restitution; issue fines for wrongdoing against individuals, businesses, and government agencies; seek injunctions; review judicial performance; revise unfair government actions; and propose corrective legislation. Office action could be appealed to the courts, or to certain federal agencies. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 222 Filed: 04/07/1999 Sponsors Mr. Alan Merson Public Contact Information: PO Box 1553 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Phone: (509) 933-3589	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would enact new limits on state revenue, defined as all revenue counted for the purpose of calculating the state’s constitutional debt limit except the state school levy. The limit in any fiscal year would be the previous fiscal year’s revenue limit multiplied by the average state personal income ratio for the three calendar years preceding the beginning of the fiscal year in question. Existing state expenditure limits and reserve funds would be repealed. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 223 Filed: 05/12/1999 Sponsors Mr. William R. Walker Public Contact Information: P. O. Box 698 Auburn, WA 98071 Phone: (253) 735-8512	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would request a federal constitutional convention to consider adding an amendment to the United States Constitution permitting an electronic referendum to overturn any act of Congress, action of the president, or decision of a federal or state agency. Certain court decisions would also be subject to overturn by referendum. Electronic voting would replace all other forms of voting. Certain officers would be subject to electronic recall. Election tampering would be punishable by death. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 224 Filed: 05/13/1999 Sponsors Mr. Maximus T. Englerius Public Contact Information: P. O. Box 2622 Seattle, WA 98111 Phone: (206) 322-5500	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would create an Office of Inspector General, headed by a Director elected for a four-year term. The Office would be authorized to: conduct hearings; make fact findings; issue cease and desist warnings; require corrective action and restitution; issue fines for wrongdoing against individuals, businesses, and government agencies; seek injunctions; process complaints about government, including the judiciary; propose laws; comment on the constitutionality of laws; and assist injured parties in recovering on official bonds. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 225 Filed: 06/14/1999 Sponsors Deborah Lynn Berkley Public Contact Information: 1222 Landon Avenue Yakima, WA 98902 Phone: (509) 453-9743	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would provide for prayer and bible reading in public schools. Religious teaching would be offered that God created the world and all in it. Children would be expressly allowed to pray and to read and study the bible in school. Values that God taught would be taught in the public schools and put into children’s lives. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 226 Filed: 07/16/1999 Sponsors Mr. Dave C. McGregor Public Contact Information: 5200 University Wy NE, #504 Seattle, WA 98105 Phone: (206) 522-7307	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would enact a credit against all regular property taxes of up to $500 per parcel of real property. The credit could not exceed the amount of tax imposed. Any tax increases imposed by state or local government would require voter approval. For this purpose, "tax" would include taxes as well as certain types of fees. "Tax increase" would include new taxes, tax rate increases, expansions in tax bases, and extensions of expiring taxes. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 227 Filed: 07/29/1999 Sponsors Raleigh K. Stitt Public Contact Information: 7714 18th Ave NW Seattle, WA 98117-5431 Phone: (206) 784-2294	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would create a Washington health insurance plan. All state residents and small employer groups would be eligible to enroll. The plan would be administered by the state health care authority and funded through premiums, state funds, and contributions from health carriers. The measure would require public and private health plans to meet certain requirements as to disclosure of information, dispute resolution, protection of privacy, health care networks, access to coverage, and related matters. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 228 Filed: 07/16/1999 Sponsors Mr. Dave C. McGregor Public Contact Information: 5200 University Wy NE, #504 Seattle, WA 98105 Phone: (206) 522-7307	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would enact a credit against all regular property taxes of $500 per parcel of real property, but the credit could not exceed the amount of tax imposed. Any tax increases imposed by state or local government would require voter approval. For this purpose, "tax" would include taxes as well as certain types of fees. "Tax increase" would include new taxes, tax rate increases, expansions in tax bases, and extensions of expiring taxes. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 229 Filed: 08/02/1999 Sponsors Flonie Green Public Contact Information: CRRH – PO Box 86741 Portland, WA 97286 Phone: (503) 235-4606	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would authorize a cannabis and liquor control commission to license the cultivation and processing of cannabis (marijuana). The commission would regulate production and would sell cannabis for both medical and non-medical purposes. The purchase, cultivation of up to seven plants, and use of cannabis would generally be legal for a person over 21. Driving under the influence of cannabis would remain a crime. Illegal cultivation or sale of cannabis would be a crime. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 230 Filed: 10/05/1999 Sponsors Mr. Gerald D. Schaefer Public Contact Information: 508 Carl Way Aberdeen, WA 98520 Phone: (360) 533-4632	Ballot Measure Summary The measure would reduce the 2001 state property tax levy by 7.75 percent. Revenues in excess of the emergency reserve fund would be used to gradually eliminate the state property tax. The state property tax levy would be limited to no increases, and local property taxes would be limited to increases at the rate of inflation. The duration and frequency of levies would be further limited. Financially eligible homeowners could defer property tax payments. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 231 Filed: 11/23/1999 Sponsors Mr. Leo J. Fagan Mr. Ray "Monte" Benham Mr. Tim D. Eyman Public Contact Information: PO Box 1641 Mukilteo, WA 98275 Phone: (425) 493-8707	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would declare null and void state and local tax, fee, and utility rate increases adopted without voter approval between July 2, 1999, and December 31, 1999. Property values would be reset to 1999 levels. Property valuation increases would be limited to the lesser of the inflation rate or 2%, except for new construction or changes in property ownership. The levy increase limit factor would be the lesser of 102% or the inflation rate. Status: No signatures submitted for checking. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: Not Assigned Filed: 07/14/1999 Sponsors Raleigh K. Stitt Public Contact Information: 7714 18th Ave NW Seattle, WA 98117 Phone: (206) 784-2294	Initiative Subject Relating to health care. Subject matter only. Status: INCOMPLETE* View Complete Text
Assigned Number: Not Assigned Filed: 12/16/1999 Sponsors Mr. Tim D. Eyman Public Contact Information: PO Box 1641 Mukilteo, WA 98275 Phone: (425) 493-8707	Initiative Subject Relating to traffic improvement. Status: INCOMPLETE* View Complete Text