BALLOT MEASURES Initiative Measure No. 732 Imposing a carbon tax and reducing some taxes.

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1 Initiative Measure No. 732 Imposing a carbon tax and reducing some taxes. This measure would impose a carbon emission tax on certain fossil fuels and fossil-fuel-generated electricity, reduce the sales tax by one percentage point and increase a low-income exemption, and reduce certain manufacturing taxes. Background: I-732 would impose a price on carbon emissions by taxing the sale or use of most fossil fuels and fossil-fuel-generated electricity, at $15 per metric ton of carbon dioxide in The tax would increase gradually to $100 per metric ton over the next four decades. The initiative would reduce the state sales tax rate by one percentage point over two years, increase a sales tax exemption for some low-income people, and reduce some manufacturing taxes. Note: The Office of Financial Management estimates that I-732 could create an $800 million hole in the state budget over the next two biennia. The Sightline Institute has prepared a three-part analysis of I- 732, providing some context for OFM s estimate, and it can be found here. Proponents Say: I-732 makes taxes fairer and promotes cleaner energy. The initiative will cut the sales tax by one percentage point and save hundreds of dollars per year for an average household. I-732 will keep living wage jobs in Washington by lowering the B&O tax on manufacturing. It encourages greater use of clean and renewable energy by taxing carbon pollution and accelerating the adoption of renewable energy. The environment and people living in poverty need I-732. Proponents include: Carbon Washington, Audubon Washington, a number of state senators and representatives. Opponents Say: I-732 is gravely flawed. It is not revenue-neutral. The Department of Revenue estimates that an $800 million reduction in state revenue will occur over the next four years. Vital social services could be cut. The initiative relies solely on a carbon tax to cut emissions rather than being integrated with the state s other clean energy laws. The carbon tax revenues would go to tax cuts rather than making significant investments into clean energy. Opponents include: The No on 732 campaign that includes Kaiser Aluminum, Northwest Pulp and Paper Association, Nucor Steel (Seattle), and Avista Corporation. I-732 opponents also include Washington Environmental Council, OneAmerica, Fuse Washington, Washington State Democratic Party, and Climate Solutions.

2 Initiative Measure No. 735 Proposing a federal constitutional amendment re: Citizens United. This measure would urge the Washington state congressional delegation to propose a federal constitutional amendment that constitutional rights belong only to individuals, not corporations, and constitutionally-protected free speech excludes the spending of money. Background: This ballot measure seeks to have Congress prepare a constitutional amendment to overturn the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court Citizens United decision. Citizens United held that campaign spending limits on corporations were unconstitutional because the limits restricted corporations free speech rights, based on a previous Supreme Court ruling that corporations are considered persons under U.S. law. I-735 would urge the Washington State congressional delegation to propose a federal constitutional amendment clarifying that constitutional rights belong only to individuals, not corporations; that spending money is not free speech under the First Amendment; that governments are fully empowered to regulate political contributions and expenditures to prevent undue influence; and that political contributions and expenditures must be promptly disclosed to the public. The initiative would urge the legislature to ratify such an amendment. Proponents Say: Get big money out of elections! Citizens United should be overturned. Restore our democracy to citizens. Money going into elections needs to be regulated and public. No more secret donations by secret donors. Political contributions and spending by corporations cannot be tolerated by free citizens. A corporation is not a person. Only a person should have the rights of a person. Proponents include: Fix Democracy First, Washington Coalition to Amend the Constitution, Common Cause, Public Citizen, Faith Action Network, Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane (PJALS), and Washington State Labor Council. Opponents Say: The Citizens United ruling has been blown out of proportion. There is no evidence that allowing corporations to contribute financially to political candidates has corrupted the political system. Citizens are still the ones who elect public officials. Citizens have proven throughout American history that they are able to weigh a candidate s qualifications. Amending our Constitution in this way would take power away from citizens and give it to government bureaucrats. Opponents: There appears to be no organized opposition.

3 Initiative Measure No Labor standards (raising the minimum wage and benefits). This measure would increase the state minimum wage to $11.00 in 2017, $11.50 in 2018, $12.00 in 2019, and $13.50 in 2020, require employers to provide paid sick leave, and adopt related laws. Background: This measure would increase the state hourly minimum wage for employees who are at least 18 to $11.00 in 2017, $11.50 in 2018, $12.00 in 2019, and $13.50 in The initiative would require employers to provide paid sick leave starting in Employees could use the sick leave in certain circumstances, including to care for family members. I-1433 would apply the Minimum Wage Act and this initiative to individual care providers; as well as adopt related laws. Proponents Say: Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do. I-1433 helps working families contribute to the growth and stability of our state. When workers have more money, businesses have more customers, more jobs are created, and there is less dependence on government and social programs. The initiative expands opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Washington workers raising wages and providing common sense paid sick leave, key elements of a healthy economy and workforce. Proponents include: Raise Up Washington, a coalition including the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Children s Alliance, Faith Action Network, League of Women Voters, Budget and Policy Center. Also the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, SEIU, and the Fairness Project. Opponents Say: Raising the minimum wage by such a significant amount across the state will harm people in low income areas. Small businesses and nonprofit organizations cannot afford such an increase and also pay for paid sick leave. The people who most need jobs will find many of those jobs disappearing, especially in already struggling communities in rural areas. I-1433 would negatively impact teenagers and young adults seeking their first job. Opponents include the Association of Washington Business (AWB), Washington Restaurant Association, Washington Lodging Association, Washington Farm Bureau, Association of General Contractors (AGC), Washington Bankers Association, Washington Retail Association, and the Washington Affordable Housing Council.

4 Initiative Measure No Campaign finance laws and lobbyists. This measure would create a campaign-finance system; allow residents to direct state funds to candidates; repeal the non-resident sales-tax exemption; restrict lobbying employment by certain former public employees; and add enforcement requirements. Background: This measure would create a state-funded campaign finance program to increase accountability in Washington's system of electoral politics. It would repeal the non-resident sales tax exemption, directing the resulting sales tax revenues to this program. I-1464 would allow residents to direct up to three $50 contributions to candidates for certain state offices. The initiative would restrict lobbying employment by certain former public employees; restrict campaign contributions from lobbyists and state contractors; increase penalties for campaign finance violations; increase campaign finance administration and enforcement; and revise campaign finance and disclosure laws. Proponents Say: I-1464 is a proposal to restore public trust and confidence in our state government. The measure is also known as the Washington Government Accountability Act that will: Increase political transparency; Reduce the corrupting influence of big money; Encourage voter participation and empower small donors; and Strengthen ethics and campaign finance enforcement. Proponents include: Integrity Washington, League of Women Voters, Faith Action Network, and King County Democrats. Opponents Say: At a time when our state is paying massive fines for failing to fully fund our school system, giving $600 million directly to politicians in Olympia and their highly-paid political consultants surely isn't the best use for our tax dollars. But that's exactly what I-1464 proposes - increasing taxes and robbing our state budget to do it. I-1464 claims to get money out of politics. The reality is just the opposite. What is more, thousands of businesses near our state's borders are able to fairly compete with businesses in neighboring states due to our state's non-resident sales tax exemption. I-1464 completely destroys this exemption, meaning businesses in our state will no longer be able to offer competitive prices to residents of other states, driving away tourism, tax dollars, and jobs in our state. Opponents include: Coalition to Stop Corruption & Save Jobs, No on Initiative Our Kids before Politics, Washington Food Industry Association, and Associated General Contractors of Washington.

5 Initiative Measure No Concerning court-issued extreme risk protection orders temporarily preventing access to firearms. This measure would allow police, family, or household members to obtain court orders temporarily preventing firearms access by persons exhibiting mental illness, violent or other behavior indicating they may harm themselves or others. Background: This measure would authorize courts, upon petition by police or a "family or household member," to issue an "extreme risk protection order" to prevent an individual from accessing firearms for a specified time period. The court would have to determine that the individual poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to her/his own self or others with a firearm. Temporary court orders could be issued where there is sufficient evidence of significant danger in the near future. Proponents Say: The vast majority of people who commit a mass shooting or complete a suicide show signs of their intentions. Families are often the first to detect those signs, but under current laws family members are powerless to remove firearms from individuals who show signs of violence and dangerous mental illness. I-1491 will empower families to prevent tragedies by temporarily preventing people in crisis from accessing firearms. The initiative allows families and law enforcement to ask a judge for an extreme risk protection order if there is a demonstrated severe mental illness or a serious risk for violent behavior. The person in crisis must surrender their guns to police and will not be able to possess other firearms for up to a year. Proponents include: Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Everytown s Gun Safety Action Fund, Northwest Progressive Institute, Washington State Public Health Association, League of Women Voters, and Faith Action Network (FAN). Opponents Say: I-1491 will not prevent gun violence. Instead it will result in hundreds, perhaps thousands, of law-abiding citizens having their firearms unjustifiably (and unconstitutionally) confiscated by law enforcement. Emergency orders can be issued with no input from the respondent whatsoever. In that context, a person's rights disappear merely on the say-so of someone else. This initiative is a backdoor attempt to attack the Second Amendment rights of Americans. This law would be ripe for abuse by individuals that disagree with the Second Amendment, and the mere insinuation that gun ownership makes you a danger to yourself or others is offensive and insulting. Opponents include: National Rifle Association (NRA).

6 Initiative Measure No Seniors and vulnerable individuals. This measure would increase the penalties for criminal identity theft and civil consumer fraud targeted at seniors or vulnerable individuals; and exempt certain information of vulnerable individuals and inhome caregivers from public disclosure. Background: This measure would increase penalties for criminal identity theft and civil penalties for consumer fraud when persons over sixty-five or vulnerable individuals are targeted. It would exempt certain information, including names, addresses, and other personally identifying information, of vulnerable individuals and in-home caregivers for vulnerable populations from public disclosure. It would also prohibit the state and state agencies from releasing certain information of vulnerable individuals and in-home caregivers of vulnerable populations except in limited situations. The Freedom Foundation has been fighting Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in the courts for several years. SEIU represents many in-home care providers. The dispute centers around whether SEIU can deduct union dues from individual provider home care aides without the explicit permission of the aides. The Freedom Foundation has won several court rulings. These rulings have forced SEIU to turnover names and addresses of home care aides to the Freedom Foundation which has sent information to some of the aides informing them of their right to opt out of paying dues to SEIU. SEIU has failed to get legislation passed in Olympia. Proponents Say: Identity theft is increasing, especially among the elderly and other vulnerable individuals. I-1501 will increase protections on the unauthorized disclosure of personal identifying information. Seniors and other vulnerable residents are most at risk. I-1501 will protect our privacy and prevent consumer fraud. The initiative will prevent the state from releasing personal information about vulnerable residents or their in-home caregivers. Proponents include: Campaign to Prevent Fraud and Protect Seniors (a project of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 775), Washington CAN, Washington State Labor Council, and Spokane County Democrats. Opponents Say: Through I-1501, SEIU ensures that it, and only it, will still receive caregivers information even Social Security numbers so it can continue capturing over $20 million in dues from these individuals every year. Caregivers have the right to stop paying SEIU, but the State isn t informing them of their right. I-1501 is a shameless attempt by a powerful special interest to diminish government transparency and the rights of hard-working caregivers. Opponents: There appears to be no organized opposition.