Tim Eyman

Tim Eyman is a “professional initiative promoter” in Washington state and has been promoting and profiting from initiatives since the late 1990s, starting his career by helping to pass Ward Connerly’s initiative to outlaw equal opportunity programs. Like Bill Sizemore in Oregon, Eyman has attempted to put a stranglehold on state government by qualifying overly simplistic and “unnecessary” fiscal proposals and frivolous initiatives all meant to do nothing more than earn him a quick buck.

Eyman has a history of scandal. According to an analysis of numbers provided by the Washington Secretary of State’s Office, signature gathering campaigns associated with Eyman have turned in more than half a million invalid signatures during his time as a fraud merchant in Washington. Campaign records showed Eyman transferred money -- a lot of money -- from his political action committee to a for profit corporation he had created with the same name. Coincidentally, he has also vocally opposed common sense, bi-partisan initiative reforms designed to limit fraud in Washington’s ballot measure system.

Eyman now relies heavily on wealthy beneficiaries of his initiative ideas to underwrite his continued activity in the field -- noted sugar daddies from past campaigns include investment banker Michael Dunmire and gaming interests.

2009

This year, Eyman is selling Initiative 1033, a TABOR initiative that would cap both state and local revenue and spending. It is a bad idea that has been tried before, and failed. Colorado passed a similar law a few years ago, but voters there suspended it because of the damage it did to their economy. This proposal makes no sense for Washington right now, as everyone deals with the worst recession in 70 years. The state has already slashed billions from education, health care, and other services, and local communities have cut funding for road repair, libraries and public health. I-1033’s arbitrary formula would lock in this year’s cutbacks, force even further reductions, and delay our state’s economic recovery. I-1033 may sound good, but it will actually make things even worse than they already are.

2008

In 2008, Eyman’s pet project was I-985, would have opened HOV lanes to all traffic. Opponents argued that it wouldn’t have cut down on bumper-to-bumper traffic or resolved serious transportation challenges. The initiative failed, barely garnering 40% of the vote.

2007

Initiative 960 severly limited the ability of Washington state to increase revenue.

2006

An attempt to limit the revenue from motor vehicle taxes, Initiative 917, failed to qualify for the ballot after the Eyman led effort was reviewed by the Secretary of State. The review discovered more than 46,000 invalid signatures among the petitions.

Eyman also failed to qualify an effort that year that would have challenged the law passed by the legislature granting equal protection to gays and lesbians. Signatures for that effort were never turned in.

2005

Initiative 900, an initiative to expand the powers of the State Auditor that the Auditor himself referred to as “not necessary,” passed.

2004

Washington voters overwhelmingly rejected Eyman’s 2004 effort to legalize slot machines.

2003

In 2003, Eyman tried and failed to qualify three initiatives.

2002

Initiative 776, which limited some local excise taxes, passed.

2001

In 2001, Eyman succeeded in passing a limit on property taxes only to have it ruled unconstitutional by the Washington state Supreme Court.

2000

In 2000, Eyman was overwhelmingly defeated when he tried to restrict the amount of money spent on public transportation.

Eyman also had yet another initiative declared unconstitutional, Initiative 722.

1999

Initiative 695, which was virtually similar to Initiative 691 in 1998, passed but was declared unconstitutional.

1998

Eyman failed to qualify Initiative 691, an effort to cut revenue from the vehicle excise tax and limit the ability of Washington state to increase revenue.

1997

In 1998, Eyman started his foray with an effort to force the legislature to ban equal opportunity programs. That effort ultimately failed to qualify, but Eyman worked with Ward Connerly and local radio personality John Carlson to pass a similar initiative in 1998.

Fraud Wire