Gregoire Will Fight Initiatives

OLYMPIA—Gov. Chris Gregoire has vowed to help defeat three prospective ballot measures with conservative roots, including Tim Eyman's third run at $30 car tabs.
Gregoire, a Democrat, also said Monday she's still weighing a fourth ballot measure — this one from the political left — that would force a renewable energy standard for large utilities.
In a news conference, Gregoire reinforced her opposition to Initiative 933, the Washington Farm Bureau measure that says government should pay landowners for regulations that damage property values, or waive those laws.
Gregoire said she sympathizes with the concerns behind the measure and will work with the Legislature to find a solution, particularly for preserving farmland in Washington.
"I want to do that," Gregoire said, but, "This piece of legislation is poorly drafted, far too broad."
Farm Bureau spokesman Dean Boyer said I-933 supporters are tired of getting no response from the Legislature.
"(Gregoire) certainly had an opportunity the past two years to come up with proposals that would address the situation, and she didn't," Boyer said.
Gregoire also opposes Eyman's I-917 and the small-business-endorsed I-920, which would repeal Washington's estate tax.
The estate tax measure would siphon money away from a special account pegged to education, which is needed to maintain voter-mandated class size limits, Gregoire said.
"I think it's appropriate that those who have prospered in this state contribute to the work force needs of tomorrow, and that's to ensure they leave a legacy by making sure our children have the kind of quality education we need to compete," Gregoire said.
Calls for comment to Eyman and the estate-tax campaign were not immediately returned.
— The Associated Press