Proposed Initiatives to the People - 1999

The following is a list of proposed initiatives to the People 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. July 2, 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: 695 Filed: 01/04/1999 Sponsors Mr. Martin Rood Mr. Tim D. Eyman Public Contact Information: PO Box 1641 Mukilteo, WA 98275 Phone: (425) 493-8707	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would establish license tab fees at $30 per year for motor vehicles regardless of year, value, make, or model, beginning January 1, 2000. Existing taxes and fees relating to motor vehicles would be repealed. The measure provides that voter approval would be required for any tax increase enacted by the state or any city, county, or special district. "Tax increase" would include new taxes, tax rate increases, tax base expansions, and tax extensions. A total of 514,141 signatures were submitted. The measure was found to have sufficient valid signatures, and was subsequently certified to the Nov. 2 (1999) General Election Ballot. It was approved by the following vote: YES - 992,715 NO - 775,054 View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 696 Filed: 01/04/1999 Sponsors Mr. Thomas E. Nelson Public Contact Information: 8217 S. 123rd St. Seattle, WA 98178 Phone: (425) 235-3810	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would prohibit certain commercial net, troll, and trawl fishing in Washington state fresh and marine waters, except tribal treaty fisheries. The prohibited gear, licensing, and fisheries would include most types of nets, food fish trawling, emerging commercial fisheries, and spawn on kelp, but would not include reef net, crab pots, shrimp pots, herring lampara, or herring dip bag nets. A violation of this measure would be a class C felony. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 697 Filed: 01/07/1999 Sponsors Mr. Winton G. Cannon Public Contact Information: 15127 NE 24th St, #380 Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: (425) 746-2983	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would repeal existing taxes, licensing fees, and tax rate schedules for vehicles. The measure would classify vehicles by type, weight, length, and would establish an annual fee for each class ranging from $10.00 for light trailers, off-road vehicles, and snowmobiles to $150.00 for the heaviest multiple axle trailers. Vehicle registration moneys would be allocated: 80% to construction and maintenance of highways, 12% to the general fund, and 8% to criminal justice. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 698 Filed: 01/07/1999 Sponsors Mr. Winton G. Cannon Public Contact Information: 15127 NE 24th St, #380 Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: (425) 746-2983	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would return all real property taxes to their levy rates as of January 1, 1990, effective January 1, 2000. Any taxing district seeking property tax increases would be required to obtain 60% approval in an election. Real and personal property assessed value would be limited to 80% of the true and fair market value. Changes in taxes, rates, assessments, valuations, percentages, or criteria would require 60% approval in a duly called general election. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 699 Filed: 01/04/1999 Sponsors Mr. Michael N. Matson Public Contact Information: 1500 Lake Park Dr. SW #21 Tumwater, WA 98512-6955 Phone: (360) 741-1101	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would reduce the state’s maximum state property tax rate from $3.60 to $3.24. Counties could levy additional real property sales taxes, earmarked for school facilities. Existing taxes collected under RCW 82.46.010 would be applied first to parks, open space, and recreational needs. Where these taxes are imposed, local governments could not charge fees on residential housing development or deny land development applications due to impacts on schools, parks, recreation, or open space. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 700 Filed: 01/05/1999 Sponsors Linda L. Tatlow Public Contact Information: P. O. Box 1019 Republic, WA 99166 Phone: (509) 775-3168	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would authorize any county with a population of less than fifteen thousand to license or permit the operation of electronic gaming devices, including slot machines. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 701 Filed: 01/22/1999 Sponsors Mr. Stephen T. Parkinson Public Contact Information: 34038 SE 56th St. Fall City, WA 98024 Phone: (425) 222-4627	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would censure those members of the United States House of Representatives from this state who voted in favor of articles of impeachment against President Clinton. The measure would further declare that such action was improper, wrongfully motivated, and an affront to our democratic system of government. The censure would apply against the following members of Congress: Jennifer Dunn, George Nethercutt, Linda Smith, Rick White, Doc Hastings, and Jack Metcalf. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 702 Filed: 01/27/1999 Sponsors Mr. Jamie B. Newman Public Contact Information: 345 16th Avenue #D Seattle, WA 98122 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 by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 703 Filed: 02/12/1999 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: Withdrawn by sponsor. Note: Initiative was refiled as an initiative to the legislature. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 704 Filed: 03/15/1999 Sponsors Mr. Henry R. Stephenson Public Contact Information: 677 Haller Creek Road Colville, WA 99114 Phone: (509) 684-4072	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would provide that all ground water developed by a landowner in the state, on the landowner’s property for domestic use, would be free and clear of all government regulation and tax. In addition, no well driller would be denied the right to develop a ground water system on any landowner’s property with the landowner’s consent. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 705 Filed: 03/03/1999 Sponsors Rachel Hawkridge Public Contact Information: 11613 124th Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98034 Phone: (425) 825-1660	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would repeal the basic and additional beer taxes imposed by RCW 66.24.290. The measure would also repeal several existing taxes on spirits, strong beer, and wine, replacing them with a tax of $2.00 per pure alcohol liter. The additional tax of $.07 per liter on retail sales of spirits would be retained, but the other additional taxes imposed by RCW 82.08.150 and the wine and cider taxes in RCW 66.24.210 would be repealed. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 706 Filed: 03/03/1999 Sponsors Rachel Hawkridge Public Contact Information: 11613 124th Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98034 Phone: (425) 825-1660	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would repeal current laws which limit sales of spirits ("hard liquor") to state-owned stores or state-appointed vendors. Grocery stores and other businesses would be licensed by the liquor control board to distribute liquor (spirits, beer, and wine), or to sell liquor at retail. The liquor control board would regulate the wholesale price of alcoholic beverages, as described in the measure, but the board would no longer be authorized to operate state-owned liquor stores. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 707 Filed: 03/15/1999 Sponsors Michael T. Bell Public Contact Information: 3003 NE 192nd St Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 Phone: (206) 364-0684	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would direct the state investment board not to make additional or new investments that directly or indirectly provide income or benefit to the federal reserve system, until an independent audit of the federal reserve financial system is made public, or the United States government issues interest-free money. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 708 Filed: 04/08/1999 Sponsors Lee Ann Prielipp Public Contact Information: 33434 8th Ave. S. Federal Way, WA 98003 Phone: (253) 941-6700	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would provide a cost-of-living salary increase each year to school district employees and to academic employees of community and technical college districts. Beginning in 2001, each annual increase would be based on the consumer price index compiled for this state by the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics. School districts and community and technical college districts would be required to spend their state-funded cost-of-living allocations on salaries and salary-related benefits. Status: Withdrawn by sponsor. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: 709 Filed: 05/06/1999 Sponsors Mr. James Andrew McPhee Public Contact Information: W. 601 Riverside Spokane, WA 99201-0611 Phone: (509) 624-6464	Ballot Measure Summary This measure would provide unemployment benefits to an individual who is separated from employment due to a lockout commencing on or after January 1, 1999, and lasting until the lockout is terminated. The benefits would still not be available if the employer is a member of a multi-employer bargaining unit and has locked out the employees because another member of the unit has been struck by its employees as a result of the bargaining process. Status: No signatures submitted by deadline. View Complete Text
Assigned Number: Incomplete Filed: 02/22/1999 Sponsors Mr. Mark Kauffman Public Contact Information: P. O. Box 601 Seattle, WA 98111-0601 Phone: (206) 232-9032	Status: Withdrawn by sponsor
Assigned Number: Incomplete Filed: 03/02/1999 Sponsors Mr. Michael Severson Public Contact Information: PO Box 203 Retsil, WA 98378-0203 Phone: (360) 895-4492	Status: Withdrawn by sponsor