Tim Eyman said he's made an appointment with the Secretary of State for Thursday at 11 a.m. to turn in signatures on Initiative 985.

Tim always likes to get a couple bites at the free publicity apple, so he'll have this news conference (and maybe a couple more.)

I don't mean to sound so cynical, but one time Tim got us reporters to show up on Olympia to announce that he wasn't turning in signatures. So, we told him the fable (?) of the little boy who cried "wolf!"

The final deadline for signature turn-in is July 3 at 5 p.m.

Monday, June 16, 2008

To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to all media outlets -- reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and others in newspapers, radio, and TV)
From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, ph: 425-493-9127,
email: tim@permanent-offense.org, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org

RE: Thursday turn-in of 224,880+ signatures for I-985 -- MUCH MORE NEEDED

We've cleared the first big hurdle -- we need everyone to redouble their efforts in these final 18 days to reach our ultimate goal.

Here's the scoop -- today in Spokane, Mike and Jack will process all
I-985 petitions and voter signatures that came in to our PO Box last week from both our volunteers and our paid folks. Based on their cursory analysis over the weekend, they're certain we'll hit the minimum threshold of signatures -- roughly 224,880 -- and so we've made an appointment with the Secretary of State this Thursday, June 19th, 11:00 am, 520 Union Bldg, Olympia (media folks: attend this for no other reason than to watch Dave
Ammons in his new role).

[More:]

But we need much more voter signatures than just the minimum. Based on the signature turn-ins in 2005, 2006, and 2007, we can predict that roughly 18% of the voter signatures won't perfectly match the ones the voters submitted on their original voter registration card. So we need to turn-in a bunch of extra voter signatures -- a cushion -- to ensure we qualify I-985 for the ballot. That means we need to reach 275,000 (preferably more) voter signatures before the July 3 deadline.

That means we need to get roughly 50,000 more voter signatures in the next 18 days. That's a tough but achievable goal. With every initiative we've ever done, it's always boiled down to the very end.

Having 225,000 citizens voluntarily sign on to this common sense transportation reform initiative is very exciting. Voters recognize that this initiative is their only opportunity to tell politicians that their top transportation priority is reducing traffic congestion, limiting the time it takes to drive our vehicles from point A to point B. And there is overwhelming support for this no-new-taxes transportation reform initiative, especially now during these tough economic times. And I-985's silver bullet is the smart, thorough, professional work being done by State Auditor Brian Sonntag -- his game-changing performance audit on transportation prompted this initiative and its policies.

BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET. This initiative is within striking distance of qualifying for the ballot. We've got 18 days left to get the necessary cushion of signatures. When it comes to the petitions that our supporters have in their hands right now, it's time to fill 'em up and send 'em in.
Our deadline is July 3. We're counting on all of you to give it one more big push in these remaining 18 days.

Tim's huge loan to the campaign (his 2nd mortgage on his home) and other campaign expenses make your financial support more important than ever. Please help take I-985 over the finish line.

FULL STEAM AHEAD!

Best Regards, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, ph:
425-493-9127, email: tim@permanent-offense.org, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org

P.S. Here's a quick summary of this year's initiative:
ReduceCongestion.org I-985 implements the State Auditor's recommendations to reform the Department of Transportation and reduce traffic congestion by using existing public resources more effectively. It opens carpool lanes to everyone during non-peak hours, requires local governments to synchronize traffic lights on heavily-traveled arterials and streets, and increases roadside assistance funding to clear out accidents faster with the implementation overseen by the State Auditor. These policies are funded by taxes and charges we already pay: 15% of vehicle sales taxes, revenue from fines generated from red light traffic cameras, and a percentage that previously went to art on transportation-related public works projects.
Finally, I-985 doesn't impose tolls, but it institutes critical taxpayer protections if tolls are created and levied.