Just say NO to initiatives
Washington’s initiative process is incredibly valuable. I have gathered signatures over the years to enshrine reproductive rights and to create comprehensive police reforms — both issues the legislature refused to act upon until we forced them via initiative to do so.
Washington’s initiative process is also dangerous.
Any random billionaire can zero in on policies he detests, pay folks to gather signatures and, for example, overturn the capital gains tax which currently forces him to pay his fair share. (And which has zero impact on most of the rest of us.) It’s a cheap trick to tap into general anti-tax sentiment, and con us into making sure he gets to keep every penny of his billions, while we subsidize him with the taxes we pay.
A random billionaire did, in fact, pay signature gatherers for an overwhelming SIX hot-button initiatives on issues that offended him. Random guy failed to notice that our duly elected legislators spent years hammering out compromises and laws to deal with complex policies on climate, police, elder care, taxes, and parental rights.