ballot initiatives

Sea-Tac workers aim for pay raise with ballot initiative

Ashley Gross — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:01:00 +0000

Workers at Sea-Tac Airport are trying to get a big pay raise by way of a ballot initiative. If approved, the increase would put them 60 percent over the state’s minimum wage of $9.19 per hour.

Washington Supreme Court tosses out supermajority tax vote requirement

Colin Fogarty — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:05:26 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington Democrats say it’s a victory for democracy. Republicans call it a defeat for taxpayers. In a major decision Thursday, the Washington Supreme Court tossed out the state’s two-thirds supermajority requirement for raising taxes.

Living Voters Guide – Just the facts

KPLU News Staff — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:08:59 +0000

With ballots and voters’ guides in-hand, it’s time to narrow in on the issues. For those who prefer an interactive way to exchange opinions on the ballot measures, there’s the Living Voters Guide, sponsored by Seattle CityClub and the University of Washington.

State poll: Liquor initiative passing; road toll too close to call

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:30:40 +0000

Statewide initiatives on the Washington ballot have many people here still studying up and wondering how to vote. Registered voters have about a week left to make up their minds. Two of the most talked about issues are whether to get rid of state-run liquor stores and on how highway tolls can be spent. A survey of voters, done by researchers at the University of Washington, offers some insight into what voters might decide after all the votes are tallied.

The statewide Washington Poll, put together by UW political science Professor Matt Barreto, says the liquor privatization measure, I-1183, will likely pass because it has the hit the crucial tipping point of 50 percent. Barreto's poll says only 43 percent of those surveyed opposed the measure.

Costco burns up record $22 million to privatize liquor

Austin Jenkins — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:13:26 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The fight to privatize liquor sales in Washington just got a lot more expensive. Costco has dumped another $9 million into the Yes on Initiative 1183 campaign.

That brings the wholesale giant’s total spending to more than $22 million – a state record for a ballot measure.

Bellevue developer backs I-1125, wants to reengineer state roads

Austin Jenkins — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:24:02 +0000

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Usually, high dollar political contributors let their money do the talking. They write big checks to campaigns, but otherwise stay behind the scenes. Not so with Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman. He’s become the money and the mouth behind Tim Eyman’s latest initiative – to limit highway tolling.

Seattle asking voters to approve a $60 car tab fee

Bellamy Pailthorp — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:56:11 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-982167.mp3

Seattle voters will face a proposed car tab fee on the November ballot. The city council has unanimously agreed to ask for an additional $60 annually for the next 10 years to help pay for road and transit projects.

The news comes just a day after the King County Council added a temporary $20 car tab fee to maintain bus service.

Deal suspends chicken cage ballot measures

Tom Banse — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:40:33 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-976742.mp3

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Animal welfare groups in Oregon and Washington are shelving initiative petition drives that could have required egg producers to give hens more spacious cages.