Tues, June 9th, 2026

To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state
(cc’d to the media, house & senate members, and Governor, and other candidates for office)

From: Tim Eyman
Fighting for taxpayers for 29 years

2010 was the year that proponents of an income tax learned that being honest with voters ensures their defeat.

That year, Bill Gates Sr. and other rich liberals wanted an income tax.

So they designed an initiative to create a new income tax.

And the AG quietly assigned their initiative a ballot title that never told the voters that it imposed an income tax.

The ballot title read: “Initiative Measure No. 1098 concerns taxation.”

Superstar attorney Stephen Pidgeon and I teamed up to challenge that vague description in court before anyone was paying attention.

In our legal brief, after repeatedly quoting from news story after news story, we concluded:

“All commentators, including those who back this initiative, have referred to this as an income tax. Voters know what an income tax is and this ballot title does not tell the voters that it is an ‘income tax.’ Reading the press releases above makes it clear that everyone but the Attorney General know this is about an income tax. The ballot title should contain that language.”

The judge agreed with us and changed it to “Initiative Measure No. 1098 concerns establishing a state income tax.”

At that point, the campaign was over. 

The voters were gonna reject it. 

Bill Gates Sr. launched the signature drive at a Seattle coffee shop.

I was there to speak out against it.

“It is the Holy Grail for progressives. They’ve wanted it for years. But the problem is that it’s just a Pandora’s box.”

“That once you give the state the power to be able to tax everyone based on income, they’re going to tax everyone based on income.”

There was a huge campaign that summer and fall.

But our November victory was secured on May 18, 2010 when the judge agreed with us to tell the voters the truth about the initiative.

As a result, the people voted exactly as you’d expect:

That same night, our 2/3-vote-to-raise-taxes initiative passed by that same margin. 

My election night speech touched on both initiatives:

“It is clear that voters rejected the argument that the business community and successful people are the enemy. Divisive efforts to demonize them backfired. They are allies, not enemies. They are heroes, not villains. They are the job creators who provide the fuel for our economy’s growth. They are role models who deserve a pat on the shoulder, not a knife in the back. Tonight the voters rejected the ugly politics of envy, resentment, and class warfare.”

That success happened because of our early court challenge to the AG’s ballot title.

And that linchpin victory took place before anyone was even paying attention. 

Campaigns don’t have to be complicated:

1) WA voters hate income taxes.

2) Democrats imposed a new income tax.

3) Brian Heywood’s initiative repeals their income tax and prohibits any other state or local income tax. 

Keep it simple, stupid.

As always, I welcome your feedback.

For 29 years, I’ve been fighting for our state and our nation.

Is it any wonder Bully Bob Ferguson is trying so hard to impose a lifetime ban on all my future political activity? 

I urge you to help me survive this political persecution by donating to the Tim Eyman Legal Defense Fund so we can get the AG’s ridiculously unconstitutional ruling overturned.

Mail your check to: 
Tim Eyman Legal Defense Fund
17404 Meridian Ave E #F PMB 176
Puyallup, WA, 98375

Or donate online:
By GiveSendGo (credit/debit card)
By Paypal (donate using PayPal or using a credit/debit card)

The only reason I’m still here and I’m still fighting is because of the prayers, love, and support of wonderful friends like you who’ve seen this gross injustice and abuse of power and are willing to help.

I love you all.

Onward!

Tim 

In the great state of MICHIGAN this November:

You can call or text me anytime:
509-991-5295

You can email me anytime:  TimDEyman@gmail.com

For more details, go to: TimDefense.com