Bellevue—Washingtonians across the state are witnessing the democratic process unfold in real time with the certification of two commonsense initiatives to the Legislature that will benefit and unify all Washingtonians.

On Tuesday, Jan. 16, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs delivered official notification to the Legislature on the second initiative to the WA Legislature. I-2117 would repeal Governor Jay Inslee’s disastrous cap-and-trade tax that has inflicted a heavy financial toll on Washingtonians, especially working families and those on fixed incomes. I-2117 also threatens the legacy of Gov. Inslee as as his Climate Commitment Act now stands on shaky ground.

Similarly, last Thursday, Jan. 11, Secretary Hobbs announced to the Legislature the certification of the first initiative, I-2113 (reasonable police pursuit). For too long, police officers across the state have been handcuffed from doing their jobs. I-2113 would return the standard of police pursuits to reasonable suspicion from probable cause.

“Now that Initiative 2113 to restore reasonable police pursuits has been presented to the legislature in Olympia, I encourage the WA Speaker of the House and State Senate leadership to join us and pass I-2113 quickly,” says WAGOP Chairman Jim Walsh, who is also the author and primary sponsor of the six commonsense initiatives to fix what’s broken in Washington. “The people of Washington are demanding that Olympia act decisively to fight crime. The legislature needs to stand with the people—not against them. It needs to pass I-2113.”

Currently, WA has the lowest number of police officers per capita than any other state in the nation and DC, amid a surging violent crime rate.

“Once the House and Senate in Olympia have passed this good reform, it becomes law—not subject to a governor’s veto. Crime rates are rising all around Washington,” adds Chairman Walsh. “We need to restore our law enforcement officers’ ability to fight crime effectively. That starts with being able to chase criminals and criminal suspects. I-2113 does that.”

The signatures on the remaining four pending initiative petitions are being verified by the Office of the Secretary of State Elections Division team using a state-mandated process of examining a 3% random sample of submitted signatures, according to the SOS website.

“Certification of these first two initiatives is great news for all the people of Washington,” states Chairman Walsh. “One of these initiatives makes our neighborhoods and communities safer; the other repeals a disastrous cap-and-trade tax scheme that inflicts suffering on working people and families.”

Chairman Walsh further explains: “The Washington state constitution creates the initiative process as a tool for the people to speak about state law and public policy. That tool is working well with these initiatives. The people of Washington are speaking. Washington’s politicians need to listen and heed what the people are saying.”

###