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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Taking the initatives: 19-year-old drinkers, 18-year-old pot smokers and sealed tapeworms

OLYMPIA -- The initiative process, which when it plays out to the passage of a proposal by the voters is apparently sacrosanct, is a messy process at the beginning.

For $5 and some words typed into a word processor, almost anyone can file an initiative petition with the Secretary of State's office.

Today, Dustin Reischman of Pullman filed a proposal to lower the state's drinking age to 19. Before you can say it, no Reischman isn't too young to by a six-pack at the local 7-11. He's 22...which is still young enough to remember those dry late teen years.

Earlier this month, James Vaughn of Orting filed a proposal to replace the state seal featuring George Washington with the image of "a tapeworm in a three-piece suit." Vaughn didn't submit a drawing (thankfully) for his proposed seal switch.

Other initiatives, along with the more highly publicized Eyman-backed "give us back the supermajority for tax increase" proposal, a series of state sovereignty ideas and a legalized marijuana proposal, include one to require the teaching of the federal and state constitutions and the Declaration of Independence in state schools and another that would tighten up ID requirements for immigrants.

You can see all of the proposals by clicking here.



The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.