Washington Votes

2007 Senate Joint Resolution 8205 (Relating to the constitutional provisions regarding initiatives and referendums.)

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  • Introduced by Sen. Ken Jacobsen, (D-Seattle) on January 9, 2007, to amend the state constitution removing initiative and referenda powers. This resolution, if approved by two-thirds of each chamber of the legislature and approved by the voters in the 2007 general election, would eliminate citizens’ powers of initiative and referenda.
    • Referred to the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee on January 9, 2007.

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Comments

Introduced by Sen. Ken Jacobsen, (D-Seattle) on January 9, 2007. New Comment

1) For the Birds [by bill99352 on January 22, 2007]
Sen Jacobson has been watching birds for too long. His human brain has morphed into a bird brain. He has gone the record saying the "The initiative process has made this state un-governable". His solution to having the people excercise their constitutional rights? Eliminate their rights.

Next thing you know, he'll want a state sponsored ornithologist. Oops. He already did that too.
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2) Totalitarian! [by ghostwalker on January 11, 2007]
He thinks we are stupid enough to surrender our "Right" to keep government in line. In the Washington Constitution, referrencing proposed laws, it is qualified in each section, "in any way limit the initiative and referendum power reserved by the people."
THAT is what keeps them from being able to TELL us what we are going to do. The epitomy of BIG BROTHER.
With government being so greedy the first thing out of the hat will be a State Income Tax, something we have been able to stave off, in the past, by our referendum power.It would no longer be a govenment of the people by the people for the people. We seem to be losing that through corruption now, DO NOT HELP BY SURRENDERING our RIGHTS.
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3) SAY WA [by Anonymous Citizen on January 11, 2007]
How disgustingly unamerican.Lets move this one to the trash where it belongs.
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4) "Not by the lawmakers, the sheep can't be trusted!" [by Mark1 on January 11, 2007]
Way to go. Take away the peoples' power to keep Olympia and lawmakers overspending in check. By the way, this is the same arrogant and incompetent Senator that has the ridiculous idea of requiring the use of headlights when ones windsheild wipers are on. So, if I use my intermittent wiper feature, does this mean I have to blink my headlights simultaneously? Shows this voter what a little brain this Jacobsen person has. Remember this come voting time, and be sure and pull the lever just as fast as your little finger will let you. Time for a replacement lawmaker here people. Despicable!
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5) Will be interesting [by bipokid on January 11, 2007]
Committee hearing should be quite interesting. A Republican I might understand this move...a Dem?

Too much holiday cheer?
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6) Awfully self-important isn't he? [by Anonymous Citizen on January 10, 2007]
Can this guy be serious? Of course he is. It only goes to show the caliber of those we elect. If this makes it to a vote of the legislature, I hope that the vote is widely publicized so we can vote out each yea-voting bum!
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7) The wrong way forward [by Anonymous Citizen on January 10, 2007]
Ken,
Despite the obvious flaws and manipulation of this system, to remove this right from the citizenry is a big step in the wrong direction for Democracy. Please come to the 46th LD meeting on January 11th ready to defend this action.
Jim
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8) Who is this guy, Jacobsen? [by pmwilkie3 on January 10, 2007]
Who does Jacobsen think elected him? Who does he think will elect him next time?
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9) Jacobsen [by TMW on January 10, 2007]
If I recall correctly, his underlying reasoning in the past has been that people elect legislators only to have their work be undercut by the initiative process. In some cases, groups completely circumvent the legislature because they know they can more easily craft public opinion, as was the case with the initiative banning smoking in all businesses. Jacobsen has a point in that the initiative process is often abused and undermines legislative efficiency, but this resolution is far too extreme. I doubt he even believes in it, he knows it would never pass and this is likely just a publicity stunt.
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10) Missed your comment [by bipokid on January 11, 2007]
Before I posted here I somehow missed your comment. Its already got a bunch of folks freaked out here. Some think that a few things could be improved like preventing the process being abused by the likes on Ken Iman, preventing outside interests and non-washington state residences from supporting or opposing various intiatives and un-identified donors from participating with big chunks of cash etc. No one wants to get rid of it however.
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11) No more "...of the people, by the people,..." [by firstprinciples on January 10, 2007]
A rather draconian effort to insulate politicians from the people. Pitiful.
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