Eyman Initiative Advances To Legislature
The secretary of state's office says Initiative 517 was certified Wednesday to have more than enough signatures.
The initiative would set penalties for harassment of signature gatherers and signers and allow more time for signatures to be collected. It also would require that voters be allowed to vote on any initiative that qualifies for the ballot, even if a lawsuit has been filed against the measure.
The Legislature now has three choices with the initiative: pass it, send it to a public vote in November or send it to a public vote with an alternative.


Marijuana Forum Thursday Night In Seattle
The state Liquor Control Board holds the second of a series of forums on legal marijuana sales Thursday night at Seattle City Hall.
Hundreds of people attended the first forum Tuesday night in Olympia. Many said they wanted licenses to grow, process or sell marijuana in what they called a new cottage industry in the state. Many also said people convicted of marijuana crimes shouldn't be disqualified.
The liquor board is drafting rules to implement Initiative 502, which was approved in November by voters. It legalizes the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and calls for state-licensed marijuana growers, processers and retail stores.
More public forums are scheduled Feb. 7 in Vancouver, Feb. 12 in Spokane, Feb. 19 in Mount Vernon and Feb. 21 in Yakima.


Some WA Lawmakers Want Faster Election Results
It's well known that in Washington state, elections often don't end on election night, because the state's vote-by-mail system ensures that any close race will be unsettled for days afterward.
But one measure introduced by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, would require ballots on election night to be processed and counted until midnight, unless there are no more ballots on hand to count.
During this past election in November, all of the state's counties, except for Pierce, did one count shortly after the 8 p.m. "poll close" deadline and then resumed tally updates in the following days and weeks. The governor's race wasn't called until the end of election week, and other races that were too close to call went even longer.
Van De Wege's bill is set to have a hearing on Thursday before the House Government Operations & Elections Committee.

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