Citizens in Charge

In recent days, supporters of Initiative 517 in Washington state are making their voices heard on the editorial pages of the state’s newspapers.  A recent op-ed article State Senator Ann Rivers of Washington’s 18th District was published in the Columbian is one of a number of opinion pieces endorsing I-517.

Sen. Rivers praised the positive effects the initiative would have on protecting the process from obstructionist legal battles as well as making petitioning safer and allowing more time for signature collection.

“But what really moved me about I-517 — what convinced me to support it and speak out for it — is its guarantee that the people get to vote on qualified initiatives,” she wrote. “With I-517’s protections, future generations will have the chance to have their voices heard at the state and local level.”

Rivers cited a 2005 Washington State Supreme Court decision, which blocked a special-interest group’s effort to block citizens from voting on initiatives.  The reason given in the court’s opinion? “Because ballot measures are often used to express popular will and to send a message to elected representatives, pre-election review unduly infringes on free speech.”

Despite this, special interest groups and elected officials have again and again taken citizen initiatives to court to prevent a vote from occurring, denying the exercise of free speech in the process.

Citizens in Charge has donated more than $200,000 in support of I-517, which protects the First Amendment rights of the citizens of the Evergreen State.


Columbian: I-517 ensures residents’ voices can be heard
http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/oct/06/i-517-ensures-residents-voices-can-be-heard

More on 517: http://www.yeson517.com/