July 3 is the deadline for initiative sponsors in Washington and Oregon to submit their petitions to qualify for the November election. Pot legalization and GMO-labeling are among the issues likely to make the ballot in Oregon. In Washington, it’s guns, money and class-size.
One element of a teacher’s union-backed initiative to reduce Washington K-12 class sizes over four years includes kindergarten classes with a maximum of 17 students. That’s in line with recommendations from the state’s Quality Education Council. But the proposed measure doesn’t come with a funding mechanism to hire the additional teachers and staff that would be needed.
Another initiative that plans to submit petitions this week is a non-binding message to Congress. It seeks a Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and other recent Supreme Court rulings on campaign finance.
Meanwhile, dueling gun measures on background checks are already guaranteed a spot on Washington’s fall ballot.
One ballot measure wildcard in Washington is whether professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman will succeed in getting his latest anti-tax measure on the ballot.
