Initiative campaigns aiming for deadline

By Andrew Garber
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Tim Eyman went first, turning in what he said were more than 238,000 signatures Monday in hopes of qualifying Initiative 892 for the ballot. The measure, funded by the gaming industry, would make electronic slot machines more widely available and use the taxes on the new gambling profits to lower state property taxes.

Other campaigns hope to follow, but not everyone is confident of getting the signatures they need in time.

"If everything goes right, we'll make it. If something goes wrong in the next 48 hours, we won't," said Scott Peterson, a spokesman for the Initiative 890 smoking ban. "It's going to be tight."

Organizers must collect 197,734 valid signatures. They generally turn in tens of thousands of additional signatures in case some are illegible or invalid.

Here's the status of several initiatives:

• I-890: Sponsored by a coalition of consumer and health-care groups, it would ban smoking in all public places. Its political-action committee (PAC) is Breathe Easy Washington. The campaign has made an appointment to turn in signatures to the Secretary of State's Office on Friday.

• Initiative 891: The measure would prohibit smoking in any public place allowing minors. Its PAC is Vote Yes Initiative 891. The campaign has made an appointment to submit signatures Friday.

• Initiative 864: A Tim Eyman measure, it would cut some local property taxes by 25 percent. Its PAC is Voters Want More Choices. Eyman sent out a notice yesterday saying he plans to turn in signatures Friday.

• Initiative 872: The Washington State Grange initiative calls for a Louisiana-style primary-election system also known as the "Top Two." The system would let voters cast ballots for any candidate, regardless of party, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election. Its PAC is Citizens Preserving Voter Choice. The Grange says it turned in about 230,000 signatures yesterday.

• Initiative 884: The League of Education Voters initiative would increase the state sales tax by a penny on the dollar to raise $1 billion a year for education programs from preschool to college. Its PAC is Citizens for the Education Trust Fund. A League spokesperson said the group hopes to turn in about 260,000 signatures Friday.
 
• I-892: Another Eyman initiative calls for allowing electronic slot machines outside of tribal casinos, and using the tax money to reduce state property taxes. Its PAC is Just Treat Us the Same. Eyman said he turned in more than 238,000 signatures Monday.

• Initiative 895: This initiative would allow insurance companies to offer health-care plans that are free of state coverage mandates. Supporters of the measure argue the mandates drive up the cost of health insurance, putting it out of reach for many small businesses. The PAC is Small Business for Affordable Health Care. The group said it is uncertain whether it will get enough signatures.

• Initiative 861: The initiative calls for a mandatory life sentence after one conviction on certain sex crimes, including first- and second-degree rape, child rape, first-degree child molestation and kidnapping. Organizers say they have not collected enough signatures to make the ballot.

• Initiative 883: The measure, backed by Bellevue Square owner and freeway booster Kemper Freeman Jr., would open commuter lanes on freeways to all traffic except during weekday peak hours. It also would earmark part of the state's existing gas taxes and sales tax on new and used vehicles to raise up to $10 billion to build more general-purpose freeway and highway lanes. The PAC is Let's Get Moving Washington. The group has dropped efforts to put it on the ballot this year.

• Initiative 297: It aims to stop the federal government from using the state as a radioactive-waste repository until old wastes have been cleaned up. This was an initiative to the Legislature. When lawmakers declined to act, the initiative was automatically placed on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com