The WA Free Press does not make election endorsements due to our nonprofit status, however we can point out the endorsements of others, and thereby give you a more complete view of the political landscape, which you might find handy when you cast your vote. This year, the only statewide races will be the early November ballot initiatives, discussed below. Our apologies to the local candidates who submitted press releases this year: we do not have the resources to cover the myriad local races around the state. --Editor

Who's Behind the State Initiatives?

by John Merriam

I-330 and I-336: the medical malpractice initiatives

The supporters of these dueling initiatives could be over-simplified and described as "doctors vs. lawyers," respectively. In supporting I-330, the doctors are joined by business groups like the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, WA Construction Industry Council, and the Liability Reform Coalition. Although I couldn't find endorsements for any of the initiatives from the major statewide political parties, there is a distinct Republican vs. Democrat flavor to these competing measures. For example, I-330 counts among its supporters the WA Federation of Republican Women. Opponents of I-330 include some 30 Democratic sub-organizations from individual counties and legislative districts. Those opponents are joined by six unions and two organizations of senior citizens. Also opposing I-330 are WashPIRG (Wash. State Public Interest Research Group), Washington Association of Churches, and the state chapter of NOW (National Organization for Women).

In a tactic that brings to mind ballot-box-stuffing, the I-330 website individually lists as sponsors the names of 163 nurses, 134 doctors, 93 medical clinics and 36 hospitals. They also found a handful of lawyers and some 27 patients willing to be listed as sponsors. Interestingly, I-330 is opposed by the WA State Chiropractic Association.

The supporters and opponents of I-336 are pretty much the reverse of I-330. But, in addition, the proponents of I-336 are supported by some big guns like the NAACP of WA, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Public Citizen, United Farm Workers, and the Brain Injury Association of Washington. The I-336 website lists other supporters, including 36 individual doctors and nurses, 16 injured patients, the Puget Sound Chapter of Legal Nurse Consultants, and various politicos.

In the trench warfare between doctors (or rather the insurance companies that write medical malpractice policies) and lawyers, it should be noted that the state legislature did not have the political courage to enter the fray. Rather than draft a compromise referendum--afraid they would antagonize both sides--they simply threw conflicting initiatives at the voters. What if both pass?

I-900: "performance audits" for state agencies and local governments

This is a vehicle of Tim Eyman's Permanent Offense outfit. 311,000-plus signatures got this initiative on the ballot. It's hard to find any organized opposition to this latest Eyman demagoguery, other than a group called Permanent Defense. The latter notes that 75% of the funding for the I-900 effort came from one individual: a Michael Dunmire of Woodinville.

I-901: no smoking inside

Endorsers might as well include a dozen nuns: American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, the Sierra Club, WA PTA, League of Women Voters, WA State Labor Council, etc., etc.

There is a well-funded opposition that is hard to track down by name. Can you guess where such funds might be coming from?

I-912: repeal the 9.5-cent gas tax

Other than 420,000 voters who signed initiative petitions (and who apparently think they can vote for "a free pony"), it is at the moment difficult to identify who is behind this initiative. It's not Tim Eyman. KVI radio and John Carlson support I-912 but are not sponsors. The woman who is listed as the sponsor on the Secretary of State's website did not return my phone call. Opponents run the gamut from Boeing to the WA State Labor Council to even the Seattle Mariners.

credit: John Jonik