Eyman dresses up for voter initiative season

Friday, June 30, 2006

Eyman dresses up for voter initiative season
Signatures turned in for car tab issue

By DAVID AMMONS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OLYMPIA -- Tim Eyman, dressed as cartoon space ranger Buzz Lightyear, kicked off Washington's initiative qualifying season Thursday by submitting signed petitions for a $30 car tab initiative that would roll back some transportation taxes.

Eyman, frequently using the movie phrase "To infinity ... and beyond!," turned in stacks of voter signatures -- more than 252,000 by his count -- and said he will return with more before next Friday's deadline.

"We have more work to do," he said.

His costume, a new tradition for the state's foremost initiative promoter, was Buzz Lightyear, the "space ranger, Universe Protection Unit," from the Disney animated movie "Toy Story."

Backers of a proposal to repeal the state's estate tax planned to turn in about 300,000 signatures and at least three more campaigns have notified the state elections division that they're coming to Olympia next week.

The crop of potential ballot measures deals with renewable energy, tougher penalties for sex offenses and requiring proof of citizenship for welfare and other public services.

A property rights initiative also may be submitted, with sponsors hoping that a big push over the long July Fourth weekend will produce a deluge of signatures.

Initiative supporters have until July 7 to submit 224,880 valid signatures to secure a ballot spot in November. To allow for duplicate and invalid signatures, a cushion of about 20 percent is suggested.

Eyman, who recently failed to qualify a referendum on the state's new gay rights law, wouldn't discuss numbers on his new $30 car tab initiative Wednesday. His usual strategy is to bring in a large batch of signatures to get a jolt of news coverage and then to follow up with additional boxloads just before the deadline.

The Mukilteo initiative promoter was happy to hear that his was the first campaign to book an appointment.

Eyman's Initiative 917 would repeal several vehicle taxes and fees passed by the 2005 Legislature as part of a $8.5 billion transportation package, as well as local taxes, such as the Sound Transit regional vehicle tax.

Voters upheld the portion authorizing a four-step gasoline tax increase of 9 1/2 cents. Eyman's measure would take away about $2.7 billion from the state projects and revamp the way government calculates a car's value for tax purposes.

Voters have twice approved Eyman's push for an annual car-tab tax limit of $30.

Mark Funk, an opposition spokesman, said critics who beat back last year's challenge of the gas-tax increase are ready to campaign against Eyman's latest plan because it would partially unravel a transit package.

Add P-I Local headlines to