Initiative 1029: Wrap-Up

Initiative 1029 was passed on November 4 2008 by a margin of 45 percent, according to the official website of Washington’s Secretary of State Sam Reed. The official tally showed 72.5 percent voted in favor of the initiative, while 27.5 percent voted against it.  These numbers are close to pre-election polling numbers that indicated 65 percent in favor of the initiative and 20 percent opposed.

Initiative 1000: Wrap-Up

Initiative 1000 was passed on November 4, 2008 by a margin of 15 percent, according to the official website of Washington’s Secretary of State Sam Reed. The official tally showed 58 percent voted in favor of the initiative, while 42 percent voted against it.

Initiative 985: Wrap-Up

Initiative 985 was defeated on November 4, 2008 by a margin of 20 percent, according to the official website of Washington’s Secretary of State Sam Reed. The official tally showed 60 percent voted against the initiative, while 40 percent voted in favor.

Despite prognostications by Tim Eyman, I-985’s main proponent, the initiative was soundly defeated. On October 3, Eyman stated in response to the question, “How is I-985 doing in the polls?”

Fact Checking The Governor’s Race

In the unlikely case that you’re undecided, here is a list of resources that can help you sort through the claims made by Gregoire and Rossi in the most expensive gubernatorial race in the country.

Initiative Measure 1029 – Yes

The Service Employees International Union(SEIU) Local 1199 supports the passing of I-1029.  On their website they provide an article that lists a number of reasons why I-1029 is good for Washington state.  Please note that portions of this article were reprinted word for word in a letter published in the Opinion section of the Everett Herald on 10/26/2008 and is credited to Louise Clark, President of the Resident Councils of Washington.

Initiative Measure 1029 – No

An opinion column whose author voices opposition to Initiative 1029 appeared in the October 8, 2008 edition of the News Tribune, a newspaper distributed in the city of Tacoma and Pierce County, Washington.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/othervoices/story/502449.html

The column was written by Craig Fredrickson, who, according to a paragraph appended to the opinion column, “is a former special-education teacher. Since 1994, he and his wife have run the Fredrickson Adult Family Home for people with disabilities in Kent. He is serving his fifth term as chair of the DSHS Adult Family Home Advisory Committee and co-authored a resident-rights curriculum for DSHS specialty training.”

Initiative Measure 1029 – Overview

Ballot Text (from the Secretary of State)

Initiative Measure No. 1029 concerns long-term care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

This measure would require long-term care workers to be certified as home care aides based on an examination, with exceptions; increase training and criminal background check requirements; and establish disciplinary standards and procedures.

Should this measure be enacted into law?

Yes [ ] No [ ] 

• Read the full text of the initiative (pdf)

Initiative Measure 985 – No

A group, describing itself as “a diverse group of Washingtonians fighting to preserve and enhance our collective quality of life,” set up the website www.no985.org to oppose Initiative 985. Here are some claims made on the website.

 

 

Claim #1: “I-985 creates a new pot of money, but doesn’t say specifically how it will be used. Initiatives shouldn’t be vague on what will be done with your money.”

 

Half True.

 

The “new pot of money” refers to the proposed “Reduce Traffic Congestion Account” that would be created upon passage of I-985. In fact, the language in the initiative sets out a series of guidelines for how the money can be spent.

The following is the passage in the text that delineates how the money can be used:

Initiative Measure 985 – No

Opponents to Initiative I-985 created the website No on I-985 to refute claims made by initiative supporters and state that the Initiative will take money away from schools, rural communities, and law enforcement and will make traffic worse, not better.

Initiative Measure 985 – Yes

Tim Eyeman and his group “Voter’s Want More Choices” are the main backers of Initiative 985.  Initially I was hoping to analyze the initiative’s main website ‘reducecongestion.org‘ but until recently, the website was down (it now redirects back to the VWMC website).  In its absence I was able to find an article Eyeman wrote in support of this initiative.

Eyeman’s article from the Everett Herald published 10/12/2008, made some interesting claims regarding the reasons I-985 should be supported. Here are four of them.