NPI's recommendations for 2014 Washington State ballot measures
Initiative 1351: YES
NPI recommends a YES vote on I-1351. If enacted, Initiative 1351 would direct the Washington State Legislature to allocate funding to lower class sizes and improve the teacher-to-student ratio in our state's public schools. School districts would receive additional levy authority; high-poverty schools would be slated to receive additional funding. While this initiative would not raise any state revenue itself, its passage will signify to legislators that we find current classroom conditions and funding levels unacceptable.
More information: Class Size Counts
Initiative 591: NO
The gun lobby sponsored Initiative 591 to prevent Washington from expanding background checks on gun sales. I-591 would accomplish this by barring the state from doing more than what federal law minimally requires. Its passage would prevent Washington's legislators from taking further action on gun safety for two years without a two-thirds vote. Vote NO.
Initiative 594: YES
Passage of Initiative 594 would require background checks on firearms sold at gun shows or over the Internet, closing loopholes in our existing background checks law. In the United States, an estimated 40% of gun transfers currently take place without going through a licensed dealer, including online and at gun shows. Certain sales would not be subject to background checks – for instance, antiques or relics, or transfers between family members. I-594 will make our communities safer and help keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Vote YES.
More information: Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility
Advisory Votes 8 and 9
Vote MAINTAINED. The two advisory votes on your ballot are brought to you by Tim Eyman's I-960. Each advisory vote concerns a bill that was already approved by the Washington State Legislature as part of the budget. These "advisory votes" are nonbinding, but they're appearing on our ballots because the Supreme Court didn't fully strike down Tim Eyman's I-960 when it had the opportunity to. Vote Maintained to send the message you support the revenue the Legislature raised or recovered. Go here for an explanation of how the advisory votes are a waste of your tax dollars.
NPI's recommendations for 2014 local ballot measures
We also urge you to support your local levies.