Quaker Voice is working with the faith community in Washington to urge a NO vote on four initiatives that will be on the ballot this fall.
See What’s at Stake?
See the Cast Your Vote Washington campaign.
- Initiative 2066 removes effective guardrails to lower methane (aka “natural” gas) use, associated with lung and cardiovascular health problems and climate risks. I-2066 factsheet.
- Initiative 2109 would repeal the state’s new tax on capital gains on certain investment profits of more than $250,000 annually. I-2109 factsheet.
- Initiative 2117 would repeal the state’s 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which requires oil refineries and other major greenhouse gas emitters to pay for pollution permits and reduce emissions over time. I-2117 factsheet.
- Initiative 2124 would allow people to opt out of a .58% payroll tax that funds a long-term care insurance benefit of up to $36,500 per person. I-2124 factsheet.
Calling All Quakers
Quaker Voice supported the capital gains tax, the Climate Commitment Act, and the natural gas phase-out when they were passed. We are now trying to reach every Quaker in Washington with the reasons for keeping them in place. You can support our efforts by doing some or all of the following with your Meeting, Church, or worship group — or with any other group where you want to speak up.
- Put an announcement in your newsletter or bulletin and share it with your email distribution list and on social media. Sample text is on the Meeting/Church Resources page.
- Distribute information sheets in person or electronically. (Use the links above to download them.)
- Ask your Meeting, Church, or worship group to sign on to one or more of the campaigns as an organization.
- No on 2109. Protect childcare and education funding.
- No on 2117 and 2066. Address climate change, thus protecting forests, fish, and clean air outside and inside our homes.
- No on 2124. Protect long term care resources.
- Invite a member of the Quaker Voice Initiative Team to visit in person or virtually to talk about the initiatives. Contact .
Watch and share this video on YouTube:
The 2024 Ballot Initiatives – Quaker Voice on Washington Public Policy [12:13]
Your suggestions on other ways to spread the word are welcome, either through your working group or directly to .
Background Information
In the spring, six initiatives were certified by the Washington Secretary of State, all aimed at reversing laws passed by the state legislature in recent years. These took the form of “initiatives to the legislature.” Another was introduced over the summer as an “initiative to the people.” Since Quaker Voice is focused on state decision-making, the fate of these initiatives is well within our scope of action.
Full official information on each of the initiatives, including action from the legislature, is available at leg.wa.gov through the “bill information” link in the left-hand column. Be sure to search for “initiative” rather than “bill.” You can also use the blue links from the initiative numbers above.
What is a ballot initiative?
The initiative provisions in the state constitution allow direct citizen participation in state policymaking, rather than leaving it entirely in the hands of elected officials. Initiatives were a Progressive era innovation in representative democracy and because of that history are more common in Western states than other parts of the country; 24 states make provisions for them. An initiative proposes a law directly to voters through a minimum number of signatures of voters.
In Washington, state legislators have three choices when an “initiative to the legislature” has been certified by the Secretary of State as meeting the signature requirement: they can adopt the initiative as law, they can let it go to the ballot with an alternative proposed, or they can do nothing and simply let it go to the ballot for a yes/no vote.
What is happening with this year’s “initiatives to the legislature”?
The leadership of the majority party in the state legislature decided not to act on three of the “initiatives to the legislature” (2109, 2117, and 2124). They will therefore appear on the ballot in November, to be voted “yes” or “no” by Washington voters. The fourth (2066) will appear automatically, without the need for action from the legislature, because it is an “initiative to the people.”
What about the other three initiatives?
The leadership of the majority party in the legislature decided to hold hearings on three of the six 2024 initiatives before the legislature adjourned. This created the possibility that they would be voted into law by the legislature itself.
The leadership did not issue a statement explaining its decision about these hearings. A good unofficial description of the reasons appears here. Our understanding is that they expected the initiatives would pass if they appeared on the ballot. A major motivation to hear them during the session was to avoid bruising media campaigns preceding the November election that would unproductively inflame divisions. Adopting them as laws at that time also allowed an earlier opportunity for the legislature to reinstate what the initiatives displaced.
The three hearings were held during the week of February 26, in front of joint House/Senate committees:
- Initiative 2081 allows parents to review K-12 instructional materials and other records and require notification of medical care provided to their children. Because it undermines safe haven provisions that are part of current school procedures to protect vulnerable students, Quaker Voice submitted written testimony opposing this initiative. On March 4, both House and Senate passed the initiative. On March 5, the bill was filed with the Secretary of State. It will be effective on June 6, 2024.
- Initiative 2111 prohibits the state, counties, cities and other local jurisdictions from imposing or collecting income taxes. Because Quaker Voice has long supported progressive taxation in the state of Washington, Quaker Voice signed in against this initiative. On March 4, both House and Senate passed the initiative. On March 5, the bill was filed with the Secretary of State. It will be effective on June 6, 2024.
- Initiative 2113 removes restrictions imposed by the state legislature on when police can legally engage in vehicular pursuits. Because this change endangers bystanders in order to protect property, Quaker Voice signed in against this initiative. On March 4, both House and Senate passed the initiative. On March 5, the bill was filed with the Secretary of State. It will be effective on June 6, 2024.