(The Center Square) – It could soon be more challenging for backers of initiatives or referendums in Washington state to even begin the signature gathering process, as a bill critics call “the initiative killer” is moving ahead in Olympia.
SB 5973– sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, would require a minimum of 1000 signatures to be submitted to the Secretary of State from those who support the measure, before the issue is given an official title and signature gathering can begin to ensure ‘viability’ of the issue.
Valdez’s bill would also ban the practice of paying signature gatherers for the number of signatures they acquire. They could still be paid by the hour, but not per-signature.
Proponents contend it prevents potential fraud and ensures integrity. Critics say it infringes on constitutional protections for voters.
On Friday, the Senate State Government Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee passed SB 5973 out of the committee on a party line vote after Republicans offered a dozen amendments.
One day after the bill, dubbed by critics as ‘the initiative killer’ received a public hearing, Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, the ranking minority member on the committee, told The Center Square he was working on some of those suggested fixes.
“Certainly, my side of the aisle is not in favor of it in any way shape or form, so you can expect a voluminous number of amendments,” Wilson said.
The Longview lawmaker told TCS he was frustrated in the Tuesday hearing that the controversial bill was pushed to the end of the two-hour allotted time, limiting time for testimony and preventing several people from having an opportunity to weigh in publicly.
As reported by TCS, 10,520 people signed in on the legislative website in opposition to the bill. About 1,200 signed in ‘pro’, as of the Tuesday hearing date.
Several people that hoped to testify in the hearing did not get the opportunity as time expired.
As Friday’s hearing got underway, debate over the Republican amendments offered by Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, and Sen. Wilson dominated much of the agenda.
Those amendments included reducing the minimum number of signatures from 1000 down to 100, and a suggestion that the state should cover legal expenses to defend a person who is accused of violating signature gathering compensation rules spelled out in the bill.
“The state is going to be prosecuting you, but you’re going to have to defend yourself with your own money so this would in effect bankrupt a lot of people and it’s certainly a deterrent for participating in the process,” said Fortunato, urging adoption of the amendment.
All of the Republican amendments were rejected by majority Democrats.
Just ahead of the final committee vote, Wilson passionately expressed his opposition to forwarding a bill that limits the power of the people.
“In my belief this is one of the last abilities to get into the express lane with government, under the referendum or initiative process afforded to us in Article 2 Section 1 of the Constitution,” Wilson said. “And when it comes to the Constitution I will every time not wish to impede that process.”
Democratic Sen. Bob Hasegawa expressed some concerns about the part of the bill that requires 1,000 signatures be submitted before a referendum or initiative can even begin the process, but said he would support the legislation because it works toward “getting money out of politics.”
The final vote was 4-3 to move the bill out of committee, sending it to the Rules Committee.
