If lawmakers want to clamp down on citizen initiatives, Washington state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, says they should be willing to follow the same rules themselves.
In a news release, Walsh said that's the rationale behind House Bill 2591, which would require legislators to demonstrate basic public support before filing a bill.
Under the proposal, lawmakers would need to collect 1,000 signatures from registered voters backing a bill before it can move forward in the legislative process,.
"In their bills attacking the people's initiatives, Olympia leftists argue that there are too many initiatives being filed and that their proposed restrictions are intended to 'protect' the initiative process," Walsh said. "Well, there are far more bills filed every year — and those numbers are growing aggressively. So, HB 2591 applies the same restrictions to bills that Olympia leftists want to apply to initiatives. And, by their logic, this will protect the legislative process."
Walsh said the bill is about fairness, common sense and efficiency.
Each year, thousands of bills are filed in Olympia, many of them duplicative or never seriously considered. That volume, he said, burdens state staff and creates confusion rather than enabling sound policymaking.
"What's good for the goose is good for the gander," Walsh said. "If Olympia is going to restrict how many initiatives can be filed every year, by the same logic, it should restrict how many bills can be filed. After all, government efficiency should be something everyone wants."
HB 2591 also targets behind-the-scenes influence in the bill-drafting process. The legislation strengthens enforcement of existing laws against what state statute calls "trading on special influence" and adds new accountability tools, according to the release.
Specifically, the bill would allow citizens to bring civil actions against lawmakers or advocacy groups that violate the law, authorizes courts to impose financial penalties, and requires violators to pay attorneys' fees when wrongdoing is proven, the release stated.
"We need to be vigilant about limiting what existing state law calls 'trading on special influence,'" Walsh said. "There's too much of that going on behind the scenes in Olympia. HB 2591 shines a light on that influence and adds 'teeth' to existing law prohibiting such corrosive activities."
Some critics have suggested the bill could increase the workload of the Secretary of State's Office, which would verify signatures.
Walsh said that concern misses the larger picture.
"You may hear some complaints from the Washington Secretary of State's Office that the new signature requirement for legislative bills will create more work and cost for that office's staff," Walsh said. "But it lightens the load for the Office of the Code Reviser, which won't have to process so many specious and duplicative bills. So, the net effect of HB 2591 would be to reduce the workload for agency staff. And it would encourage the Washington Secretary of State to focus more on state business than on fighting with federal agencies."
Walsh said HB 2591 ultimately comes down to equal rules for citizens and lawmakers and restoring trust in the process.
"If restricting initiatives is about protecting democracy," he said, "then applying those same standards to the Legislature should be an easy call."
