Initiatives that would privatize the state liquor system, make it harder to toll highways and reinstate training requirements for home health-care workers all appear likely to make the November ballot.
OLYMPIA — Initiatives that would privatize the state liquor system, make it harder to toll highways and reinstate training requirements for home health-care workers all appear likely to make the November ballot.
The backers of all three measures turned in more signatures than they're expected to need to meet the state requirement of at least 241,153 valid signatures of registered voters. The deadline for turning in petitions to the secretary of state was Friday.
Sponsors of the liquor-privatization initiative, I-1183, estimate they turned in more than 350,000 signatures. Anti-tax activist Tim Eyman says he turned in around 327,000 signatures for the tolling initiative. Backers of the home health-care measure turned in more than 340,000 signatures.
I-1183 would close state liquor stores and sell their assets, including the liquor-distribution center. It would allow private stores to sell liquor and create licensing fees for sale and distribution of liquor based on sales revenue. Costco is the main backer, providing most of the more than $950,000 in cash and in-kind contributions raised so far.
The initiative would require private retailers who get licenses to sell liquor to pay 17 percent of their gross spirits revenue to the state. Proponents say that would generate millions of dollars for the state, but have not calculated how much yet.
A group called Protect Our Communities has formed to fight the initiative, arguing it's no improvement over a liquor-privatization measure backed by Costco last year.
Critics attacked last year's measure by saying it would have led to thousands of stores selling liquor. The state currently has 323 contract and state-owned stores. Opponents contend the new measure would still cause a proliferation of stores selling liquor.
I-1183 backers disagree. They estimate around 1,500 stores would be eligible to sell liquor. Those stores would be required, for the most part, to have at least 10,000 square feet of retail space, supporters say.
I-1125 would require the Legislature, not the state Transportation Commission, to set tolls, and mandate that a toll on a particular road or bridge be used only for construction, operation or maintenance of that project. Tim Eyman is the sponsor, and Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman the main financial supporter.
I-1163 would require background checks and training for long-term-care workers and providers. It essentially would reinstate a measure approved by voters in 2008 that was delayed by the Legislature because of budget shortfalls. The measure is sponsored and financially backed by the Service Employees International Union.
The Secretary of State's Office plans to begin checking signatures July 18.
For the second year in a row, an initiative to legalize marijuana appears to have fallen short in its signature-collection drive.
Staff reporter Andrew Garber contributed to this story, which includes material from The Seattle Times archives.
The backers of all three measures turned in more signatures than they're expected to need to meet the state requirement of at least 241,153 valid signatures of registered voters. The deadline for turning in petitions to the secretary of state was Friday.
Sponsors of the liquor-privatization initiative, I-1183, estimate they turned in more than 350,000 signatures. Anti-tax activist Tim Eyman says he turned in around 327,000 signatures for the tolling initiative. Backers of the home health-care measure turned in more than 340,000 signatures.
I-1183 would close state liquor stores and sell their assets, including the liquor-distribution center. It would allow private stores to sell liquor and create licensing fees for sale and distribution of liquor based on sales revenue. Costco is the main backer, providing most of the more than $950,000 in cash and in-kind contributions raised so far.
The initiative would require private retailers who get licenses to sell liquor to pay 17 percent of their gross spirits revenue to the state. Proponents say that would generate millions of dollars for the state, but have not calculated how much yet.
A group called Protect Our Communities has formed to fight the initiative, arguing it's no improvement over a liquor-privatization measure backed by Costco last year.
Critics attacked last year's measure by saying it would have led to thousands of stores selling liquor. The state currently has 323 contract and state-owned stores. Opponents contend the new measure would still cause a proliferation of stores selling liquor.
I-1183 backers disagree. They estimate around 1,500 stores would be eligible to sell liquor. Those stores would be required, for the most part, to have at least 10,000 square feet of retail space, supporters say.
I-1125 would require the Legislature, not the state Transportation Commission, to set tolls, and mandate that a toll on a particular road or bridge be used only for construction, operation or maintenance of that project. Tim Eyman is the sponsor, and Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman the main financial supporter.
I-1163 would require background checks and training for long-term-care workers and providers. It essentially would reinstate a measure approved by voters in 2008 that was delayed by the Legislature because of budget shortfalls. The measure is sponsored and financially backed by the Service Employees International Union.
The Secretary of State's Office plans to begin checking signatures July 18.
For the second year in a row, an initiative to legalize marijuana appears to have fallen short in its signature-collection drive.
Staff reporter Andrew Garber contributed to this story, which includes material from The Seattle Times archives.
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