Sun, March 17, 2024

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 27 years

First things first:

As many of you know, I’m adopted.

My birth mother’s last name is Murphy and my birth father’s is Milligan.

I’m Irish through and through.

So …

“Irish people are fierce! … Irish people stand by their beliefs with fierce stubbornness.” (IRELAND WIDE, Jan 22)

For 26 years, I have stubbornly guarded the initiative process from attacks by politicians.

That obviously includes fighting to protect our own initiatives.

But also it’s been fighting to protect the process itself.

That includes beating back anti-initiative bills being pushed in the Legislature as well as suing the Legislature when they undermine it.

For decades, I have committed myself to ensuring the process stays available for everyone NOW but just as important to me is protecting the process for the next generation of initiative activists.

Please read the demand letter I sent last week: 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

To: Secretary of State Steve Hobbs
To: Attorney General Bob Ferguson
From: Tim Eyman, initiative activist

DEMAND LETTER (RE: your unilateral increase in the filing fee for initiatives)

Dear Secretary Hobbs:

Tomorrow (Wed, March 13) is the first day for citizens to file an initiative to the legislature.

I will be filing several initiatives on various topics tomorrow. However, this morning a friend forwarded me a news story reporting that your office unilaterally raised the initiative filing fee from $5 to $156 starting tomorrow.

YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO UNILATERALLY INCREASE INITIATIVE FILING FEES.

The chapter governing STATE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM is chapter 29A.72 RCW.

The legislature delegated to your office the authority to adopt rules establishing reasonable fees for specifically identified chapters and Titles, but chapter 29A.72 RCW governing initiatives is not listed.

If the legislature had intended to grant your office unilateral authority to raise filing fees for initiatives, it could have done so but did not.

This statement of fact is bolstered by instances where the legislature considered increasing those fees and decided to keep them the same.

During the 2007 legislative session, Senate Bill 5392 was introduced. A public hearing was conducted on January 30 and I testified on it. The bill was not passed into law – the legislature decided not to increase the fee. 

During the 2010 legislative session, Senate Bill 6665 was introduced. A public hearing was conducted on January 21. I testified on that one too. The bill was not passed into law – the legislature decided not to increase the fee.

The Legislature has specifically retained authority regarding the filing fee amount and has repeatedly decided the amount should remain the same. 

You have no authority to unilaterally increase filing fees for initiatives. 

Therefore, for my initiatives that’ll be filed tomorrow morning, your office must accept them with the legislature-defined amount of $5.00 per initiative.

If that does not happen, you will force me to file a lawsuit against you and your office.

Please respond by 5:00 pm today because time is of the essence. 

Tim Eyman

— END —

Neither Steve Hobbs nor Bully Bob responded.

So I gotta suit up again.

I’ve been working non-stop on drafting this important lawsuit ever since.

That’s why it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me.

Later this week, I’ll update you on my progress.

Stay tuned.

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

I urge you to help me fight back against the AG’s abuse of power by donating to the Tim Eyman Legal Defense Fund so that Richard Sanders can get this 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)

With your help, I will keep fighting for the people across our nation with initiatives, lawsuits, lobbying, and helping elect more freedom-loving elected officials.

I love you all.

Onward!

Tim Eyman

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

You can email me anytime: timdeyman@gmail.com
(I can’t access any of my other email addresses — grrr!)

For more details on this, go to: TimDefense.com