This Washington
Business Group Raising Funds For Eyman
A spokeswoman for the Association of Washington Business confirmed today that the group---the state's main big-business lobby---is raising money to help reimburse Tim Eyman for a $250,000 mortgage he took out to help fund Initiative 1053 this election season. I-1053, which passed, requires a two-thirds vote of the state legislature to raise taxes. Eyman and the AWB ran two separate campaigns on behalf of the measure; at the time, PubliCola heard that the AWB formed its own campaign committee because Eyman wanted AWB to pay him up front, and held on to thousands of signatures to try to convince them to pay up.
Whatever the validity of that rumor, the AWB is clearly happy with Eyman's efforts. Earlier this week, three AWB staff members blasted a letter to AWB members asking them to donate to Eyman's group, Voters Want More Choices.
The letter reads, in relevant part:
Contacted yesterday, Eyman said he was not aware of any organized effort by the AWB to help pay off his loan, but added, "I hope they are."
Whatever the validity of that rumor, the AWB is clearly happy with Eyman's efforts. Earlier this week, three AWB staff members blasted a letter to AWB members asking them to donate to Eyman's group, Voters Want More Choices.
The letter reads, in relevant part:
Dear AWB Member,
The elections are over and as we prepare for the coming 2011 legislative session, the Association of Washington Business is extremely grateful to the voters for passing Initiative 1053. This necessary protection is already proving itself to set the tone for the next session for lawmakers to focus on reforms and efficiency instead of raising taxes and eliminating business incentives.
Now it’s time to pay it forward.
At the beginning of the campaign on I-1053, Tim Eyman took a second mortgage on his home to kick-start the campaign to pay for petitions and for gathering signatures. ... The business community financially backed the effort to guarantee its spot on the ballot and then we funded a media campaign to encourage voter support and its ultimate overwhelming passage.
Without the initial action by Tim Eyman and his personal loan to the campaign, the initiative would not have been presented to voters. AWB asks you to consider making a donation to pay off this loan as soon as possible. There is no limit on how much a person, company, or association can contribute.
Contacted yesterday, Eyman said he was not aware of any organized effort by the AWB to help pay off his loan, but added, "I hope they are."
