Video quality not great (a much better video is nearly done) but you can listen & watch me battle w/ the AG in court on Friday. Need your feedback.

Sun, June 9, 2024

To: Our thousands of supporters across the state

From: Tim Eyman
Fighting for Taxpayers for 27 years

I’m not an attorney — so since the AG has prohibiting me from earning money — my hourly rate is $0.

So I handled this case myself.

When Secretary of State Steve Hobbs — with the acceptance, encouragement, and support of the AG — decided to secretly and unilaterally raise the initiative filing fee from $5 to $156 (a 3000% increase), it was clear to me that action violated our Constitution which specifically states: “The first power reserved by the people is the initiative” and that the only changes allowed are those that “facilitate” the people’s right to initiative.

“Facilitate” means to make something easier to do.

Clearly, such a massive filing fee doesn’t make the initiative process easier – it makes it even harder than it already is.

So that’s where I started.

But after months of research, evidence gathering, and overall sleuthing, I was able to gather a wealth of evidence — legislative history, state and federal cases, state and federal constitutional protections, and internal documents from the Secretary of State’s office (thanks to the public records act) — that clearly illustrates that this was outside the scope of his authority.

Only the Legislature has the authority to raise the initiative filing fee and has repeatedly decided not to (because citizens lobbied heavily against it).

So when the Secretary of State — with the blessing of the AG — secretly increased the filing fee, they both abused their power.

My final brief included all my arguments and evidence (you can read it here).

Over the years, Judge Lanese has shown himself to be one of the few judges in Thurston County who actually reads the briefs submitted.

So when I walked up to the lecturn to give my oral argument, I knew he already read my arguments, reviewed my evidence, and evaluated my briefs, declarations, exhibits, & other supporting documents.

The video below isn’t great quality — you can barely see me — but at least you can listen to my presentation.

Click on the image below to do so:

If that doesn’t work, click here to watch it.

It is critical to me to get your feedback.

A “new & improved” video of Friday’s hearing is still in process. It was filmed by Charlie Kirry who attended in person and recorded it in the courtroom. When it’s ready, I’ll send that out.

His video will be much higher quality and it’ll include the AG’s reply and the judge’s statement that he would issue his ruling in the coming days.

I continue to have the warmest feelings for those friends who were in the courtroom to support me as well as those who watched it on ZOOM — it helped me a lot to know I had so many friends in my corner.

I love you all.

Stay tuned – there’s more to come.

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: Tim@TimDefense.com
(I can’t access any of my other email addresses — grrr!)

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