INITIATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY
BACKGROUND -- In 1912, Washington became one of the first states to adopt the initiative and referendum process, thus securing the rights of citizens to make and remake their laws, and to provide a check over the Legislature’s decisions. Today, if Washingtonians are dissatisfied with certain laws or feel new laws are needed, they can petition to place proposed legislation on the ballot. Because the electorate can "initiate" legislation, the process is termed an "initiative."
The initiative process is a treasured tool for our citizens. Over the years, citizens have used the initiative process for many diverse reasons. The labor movement has used this tool to address issues we felt the Legislature had failed to address, such as two minimum-wage initiatives. In 1998, we made history with I-688, becoming the first state in the country to require automatic annual adjustments for inflation to our state’s minimum wage. The labor movement used a total volunteer effort to collect more than 288,000 signatures to get I-688 on the ballot.
Unfortunately, this tool of the people has become a big business for paid signature-gathering firms. Individuals or groups wealthy enough to "buy" the signatures needed to place a measure on the ballot have little problem finding people willing to work for a per-signature bounty. Itinerant petitioners travel state to state to collect signatures. These low-paid workers have no vested interest in the policies or effects of the proposed legislation as they circulate multiple petitions for $1 to $5 per signature. We know virtually nothing about these individuals, including whether they have been convicted in other states of fraud, forgery or other felonies.
LABOR’S POSITION -- The Washington State Labor Council has worked with a coalition of business, labor, environmental, education and good government groups who all agree that it’s time to clean up the initiative system. A few of the accountability proposals that WSLC supports include:
-- Registration requirements with the Secretary of State and other state agencies for paid signature gathering firms;
-- Registration and licensing requirements with the Department of Licensing for individuals engaged in "for profit" signature gathering;
-- Require a signed and notarized statement on every initiative petition by the individual (paid or volunteer) that circulated that petition.
-- New training requirements for both paid and volunteer signature gatherers;
-- Eliminate "pay per signature" and require that all paid petitioners be paid by the hour.
-- Fund investigative staff positions to address complaints or allegations of illegal activities in the initiative process;
-- Require tougher penalties for individuals or firms found guilty of fraud or forgery in the initiative process.
We strongly believe that the initiative process is a valuable tool for the citizens of our state. Through these reforms, we hope to return the process to the people and reduce the influence of deep-pocketed special interests.
Return to the WSLC Legislative Issues Index
Copyright © 2009 — Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO