Referendum Measure 88 (R-88) is a Vote on Initiative 1000 (I-1000). A Reject vote on R-88 will Reject I-1000 and block I-1000 from becoming the law.
September 22nd – With Referendum 88, Washington voters this election will decide whether to reject I-1000
That year’s Initiative 200 campaign was a grassroots effort, heavily outspent by backers of affirmative action. It came in an election year when Democrats in Washington picked up two U.S. House seats and regained control of the state Senate.
And yet, even as voters approved ballot measures for medical marijuana and raising the minimum wage, 58% of voters decided to end affirmative action after a bitter and divisive campaign.…
Now, with Referendum 88, Washingtonians will revisit a charged conversation about race, gender, equality and the scope of government — and it remains to be seen whether a span of 20 years has changed residents’ views on the issue.
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The debate over affirmative action itself remains much the same as 20 years ago.
Opponents see it as polarizing and say it ultimately rewards people based on their gender, race or ethnicity, rather than merit.
Supporters say it’s needed to help correct decades of discrimination that left women and minorities lagging in opportunities and access to education, income and employment.
September 17th – Pro R-88 Campaigns sued for not paying their signature gatherers.
The Citizen Solutions lawsuit also names a new campaign committee created in July, called Approve I-1000, which has not reported raising any money. That committee names Wineberry, as well as the former governors among its officers.
In addition, the lawsuit names a third campaign committee, WA Fairness, which launched last week to defend I-1000 from repeal on the fall ballot.…
“If anybody is giving money to the I-1000 campaign, they need to understand that they’re giving money to a campaign that has defrauded the people who put it on the ballot and that’s wrong,” said Lamb, the attorney who represents Citizen Solutions.
September 13th – A reporter revealed that Pro I-1000/R-88 campaign owed their workers $1.3 million in pay, and lawsuit pending.
They collected 395,000 signatures for Initiative 1000, which lawmakers enacted in April, and a coalition of labor unions, progressive groups, and businesses are fighting to protect from repeal in November.
But Citizen Solutions is still owed nearly $1.1 million. In the next few days the firm intends to go to court to get the money.
The company contends One Washington Equality Campaign signed a promissory note in January for $919,512 plus a $150,000 bonus if the measure qualified. But the political committee has not coughed up the money, stiffing dozens of individuals from around the country, many of whom are minorities and veterans, according to the company.
September 6th – A judge ruled that R-88 can be described in voter’s pamphlet as allowing racial quotas.