Washington: I-985

The four major ballot initiatives up for a vote this November, I-1000, I-985, I-1029 and Prop. 1, all have positive support according to the latest Washington Poll. 

I-1000, which would legalize assisted suicide based upon the same legal constraints as a similar Oregon law, leads  its opponents 56-38.

Meanwhile I-985, which seeks to reduce traffic congestion by coordinating red lights and opening up HOV lanes, leads narrowly with a 45-43 count among voters statewide.

I-1029, requiring more training for certain health care workers, leads handily, 65-20.

Tim Eyman, the perennial ballot initiative coordinator whose current project, Initiative 985, seeks to implement traffic congestion control suggestions from State Auditor Brian Sonntag, announced today that he will be debating King County Executive Ron Sims (D-Seattle) on the merits of the initiative. Sims is an opponent of the bill, and has frequently countered Eyman's efforts in the past.

It may not be a standard candidate-on-candidate debate, but that does not mean it won't be worthwhile.

A proposed initiative to allow smoking in certain businesses, notably private clubs and cigar bars, has fallen painfully short of the 224,800 signatures required to gain a place on the November ballot. The Olympian has a story on the ill-fated Initiative 1016, which collected more than 213,000 signatures, just over 10,000 short of the necessary amount.

The Tacoma News-Tribune has the scoop on which ballot initiatives are likely to turn in the necessary 250,000 signatures to earn ballot access between now and the July 3 deadline courtesy of Secretary of State Sam Reed's communications director Dave Ammons, the former AP writer.