A new political committee, Citizens for Responsible Spending, has been set up to campaign for I-1053, a Tim Eyman initiative that would reinstate the requirement that two-thirds of the legislature must approve any state tax increase. However, the new group may be campaigning for the initiative without Eyman's approval.

The committee was formed by the Association of Washington Business, a conservative business lobby; Gary Chandler, a lobbyist for AWB, is its treasurer.

In action for less than 10 days—the group registered on the June 15—they've already raised $191,000 and spent $80,000 (on signature gathering).

Top contributors include: The Washington Farm Bureau ($50,000); the Washington Association of Realtors ($25,000); the Washington Beverage Association ($20,000); Schnitzer Steel ($10,000); and Issaquah Republican, anti-transit activist, and property owner and developer  George Rowley ($10,000).

Eyman's own I-1053 committee, Voters Want More Choices, has raised $290,000, including $90,000 in loans from Eyman himself (and spent $288,000).

But this may not be a unified front. Chalk this up to rumor, but PubliCola hears that the AWB formed their own campaign committee because Eyman wants some sort of payment from AWB, and that he's actually holding on to thousands of signatures until an agreement on that point is reached. AWB, not wanting to be associated with Eyman (or pay him, apparently), started their group and struck out on its own.

I have calls in to both Eyman and the AWB.