Editorial
Eyman opponents: Think before you sink

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If opponents of initiative maven Tim Eyman don't like his proposals, they should say so plainly rather than implying signature gatherers are crooks.

Two organizations that oppose Eyman are using fear-inspiring telephone messages suggesting initiative signers could end up as victims of identity theft.

In 1999, when Eyman was pushing Initiative 695, he consistently stated Washington was the fifth-highest-taxed state in the nation, implying his initiative targeting state coffers would correct the disparity. Truth is, when you take out the federal tax, Washington ranked not fifth, but 13th in 1999, according to the 2000 U.S. Census data. Other studies ranked it lower.

And who can forget Eyman lying to the public about drawing compensation from his initiative campaign fund? But that doesn't open the flood gates for his critics.

Last week, the Washington State Council of County and City Employees and the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs targeted a misleading telemarketing scheme at Pierce County voters. Ostensibly, the two councils want to protect their members' jobs from the effects of Eyman's two latest property-tax-cutting initiatives. The measures separately would cut state and local property-tax revenues.

In recorded messages, Bill Hanson, executive director of the police and sheriffs council, warns, "Law enforcement has learned that in the past many individuals who are paid as signature gatherers have been convicted of forgery and other crimes. Please protect yourself from identity theft."

Chris Dugovich at the county and city employees council defends the message as a public service since the industry of initiative signature gathering is unregulated and signatures are a valuable commodity. That is a point well-taken. But while the council could produce examples of forged petition signatures yesterday, it produced no evidence that initiative signers had their identities stolen.

Something smells here. Hanson's group two years ago never warned folks off signing the successful Initiative 790, which had to do with adjusting the partially publicly funded pension system for police and firefighters.

During his recorded message, Hanson had one more piece of advice for would-be initiative signers: "Think before you ink."

Before continuing this disingenuous telephone campaign, Hanson and the others would be better off following this advice: "Think before you sink."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company