Testimony to the Washington state House regarding House Bill 1586 to undermine the People's Initiative I-200

The following is the statement by Tim Eyman, co-sponsor of I-200, against House Bill 1586 which guts voter-approved Initiative 200 at the Thursday, February 10th House hearing:

Racial discrimination is wrong when it's done by people; it is indefensible when it's done by the government. The only fair policy is one where the government treats everyone the same.

For decades, race-based admission policies were like a drug-addiction for colleges and universities. Government got hooked on the destructive drug of discrimination. In 1998, the voters forced the government to go cold turkey and give up their race-addiction. Now after six years of being clean, the government wants to fall off the wagon.

House Bill 1586 is a bottle of whiskey being served to an alcoholic. The destructive drug of discrimination cannot be used responsibly.

After a two-year debate, 59% of voters approved Initiative 200. But rather than respecting the voters' overwhelming rejection of discrimination, Olympia is ignoring it. HB 1586 totally obliterates the policies and principles of voter-approved I-200. It is a disgusting betrayal of the voters' decision.

I-200's policy of non-discrimination is expanding to other states. A Michigan initiative modeled after I-200 recently set a state record, turning in over 508,000 signatures, the most ever in state history. Polls show Michigan voters will overwhelmingly approve it this November.

A recent national poll shows that 80% of likely voters support I-200's policy.

The idea of politicians violating I-200 by secretly gutting it in Olympia is abhorrent. House Bill 1586 uses Orwellian-wording which desecrates the principle of equal treatment. This bill is a disgusting manipulation of the English language. It twists I-200 into a pretzel to bring back discriminatory policies banned by voters in 1998.

The voters have already spoken on this issue: leave it alone.

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