In a significant move to safeguard parental rights, citizen action group Lets Go Washington submitted over 420,000 signatures to the Secretary of States office on Tuesday.
The group aims to qualify Initiative 2081 for the 2024 ballot, exceeding the required 325,000 verified signatures by nearly 100,000.
Initiative 2081, as described by the group, is designed to empower parents and guardians of public-school children with the right to review instructional materials and inspect student records, including health and disciplinary records, upon request. The initiative also mandates public schools to provide parents and guardians with notifications about medical services rendered, instances when students are taken off campus, access to calendars and certain policies, and written notice and opportunities to opt students out of comprehensive sexual health education and answering certain surveys or assignments.
Brian Heywood, the founder of Lets Go Washington, addressed supporters of the initiative, stating that it was a step to re-establish in the state of Washington that parents are the primary stakeholder in the raising of children. He expressed his concern over a series of laws enacted over the past decade that, in his view, propagate the erroneous notion that the state is a better guardian than most parents. He argued that the presumption should be that parents love their children, with exceptions, rather than the reverse.
Heywood specifically cited Senate Bill 5599, which has been criticized for encouraging minors to leave home to receive "gender-affirming" care and "maternity services" without parental consent and at taxpayer expense. Despite significant opposition, protests, and letter-writing campaigns, Washington Democratic Governor Jay Inslee signed the Democrat-supported legislation into law.
Heywood further stated, I believe that the presumption should be that parents know how to love their children, know how to teach and guide their children better than any state government employee. He noted that current state law and I-2081 make exemptions for minors due to abuse.
The Center Square reported that if I-2081 garners enough verified signatures, the Democratic-controlled Legislature can pass it during the upcoming legislative session, let it go to the ballot, or pass an alternative proposal, which would see both I-2081 and the alternative proposal placed on the ballot at the next state general election.
In November, Lets Go Washington submitted over 400,000 signatures for Initiative 2117, aimed at repealing Washingtons cap-and-trade system, which has led to increased gas and utility prices. The group is also set to submit signatures for Initiative 2113, which seeks to remove restrictions on police officers ability to engage in vehicular pursuits, restrictions that were enacted by Washington Democrats and have resulted in a surge in crime and stolen vehicles.
The organization stated that these three initiatives are part of a broader slate of six initiatives aimed at Fixing Whats Broken in Washington and being a voice for positive change in our beautiful state! The other initiatives aim to repeal a capital gains tax, prohibit a state income tax, and allow people to opt out of a long-term care tax.
Washington state Democrats, fearing the potential reversal of their legislative "wins," have partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union in an attempt to intimidate signature gatherers, from establishing a hotline to report signature gatherers to labeling the initiative efforts as the MAGA GOPs extreme ballot measures."
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