With a nation’s news media “hollowed out” by closings and downsizings, Seattle-based InvestigateWest is swimming against a tide as it pursues a task vital to the republic: It has taken on the job of seeking the truth about those seeking power in America, specifically reporting on ongoing threats to American democracy.
Tag: Fair Elections
Posted inElections
Many local Republicans either back Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy or are giving them a wink and a nod in the 2022 midterms
Many Republican candidates in the Pacific Northwest have either done a duck dive on Trump’s attack on democracy or voiced “reservations” in such a way as to appease the MAGA cult and avoid Trump’s wrath.
Posted inElections
Tim Eyman’s lawsuit to force more anti-tax propaganda onto 2022 ballots gets quashed
A pro se lawsuit recently filed by right wing provocateur Tim Eyman that sought to load up Washingtonians’ 2022 ballots with additional anti-tax propaganda has ended in failure after the State Supreme Court issued a special order deeming Eyman’s legal challenge untimely, thus putting the kibosh on his scheme.
Posted inElections
Let’s amend the King County Charter to elect all county offices in even-numbered years
If adopted by the Council and ratified by voters this November, the amendment would eventually result in future elections for Executive, Assessor, Elections Director, and County Council being held in midterm and presidential cycles, rather than in odd-numbered years, as has been the case for many years.
Posted inElections
Fiscal impact disclosures now required for statewide initiatives: Governor signs HB 1876
HB 1876 is the first significant initiative reform legislation to be signed into law in Washington State in the twenty-first century. It makes voting on statewide initiatives easier (and deceptive campaigning harder!) by alerting voters when an initiative would increase or decrease funding for public services. This is done through a statement that appears before the Yes/No ovals on the ballot.
Posted inPublic Service
In arena after arena, Attorney General Bob Ferguson is getting results for Washington
The state’s three-term chief legal officer has scored an impressive number of wins in a bevy of cases with big ramifications.
Posted inElections
Bill to add fiscal impact disclosures to state-level initiatives passes Washington’s Senate
By a vote of 26 to 22, the Senate approved House Bill 1876, which requires fiscal impact disclosures to be appended to ballot titles that would alter the state’s finances.
Posted inElections
Washingtonians overwhelmingly support adding fiscal impact disclosures to ballot titles
More than eight in ten Washington voters are supportive of legislation that would add transparency and context to statewide initiatives and referenda in Washington by disclosing fiscal impacts to voters on the ballot, NPI’s February 2022 statewide poll finds.
Posted inElections
“Five alarm fire”: Tim Eyman beside himself after House passes key initiative reform bill
The convicted serial public disclosure law offender and notorious chair thief — who is fond of sending out email missives that liberally utilize all caps — is having a public meltdown over the Washington State House of Representatives’ passage of House Bill 1876.
Posted inElections
VICTORY! State House adopts bill to add fiscal impact disclosures to initiative ballot titles
By a vote of 54–44, the House voted to pass HB 1876, prime sponsored by Mia Gregerson, which is one of NPI’s priority bills for 2022. This is truly a huge win for Washington voters that deserves to be celebrated.
Posted inElections
Bills to strengthen initiative ballot titles and phase out odd year elections move forward
House Bills 1727 and 1876, both prime sponsored by Representative Mia Gregerson, received votes of support from a majority of the House State Government Committee this morning in executive session, with all four Democrats voting aye and all three Republicans voting nay.
Posted inElections
Washington voters back phasing out odd year elections by a 2:1 margin, with 24% unsure
52% of likely 2022 voters surveyed about two months ago said they either strongly or somewhat supported doing away with elections in odd-numbered years, while 24% were opposed and another 24% were not sure.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
Governor Jay Inslee appoints Steve Hobbs to be Washington’s next Secretary of State
Hobbs (D‑44th District; Snohomish County) will take over on November 22nd from Republican Kim Wyman, the last Republican holding statewide office on the Left Coast, who is resigning on November 19th to take a job in the Biden administration.
Posted inElections
NPI launches VoteMaintained.org, a resource for navigating “advisory votes”
The Northwest Progressive Institute has created a new website for voters that provides guidance on how to respond to statewide “advisory votes” … the three items (numbered #36, #37, and #38) that every Washington voter will see at the top of the 2021 ballot.