First Principles & Voting
“Can’t live with it, can’t live without it.” That often seems to be the relationship between government and freedom. How do we get the government we need to safeguard a free society without that power getting out of hand? We work to ensure that freedom’s vote remains safe and secure and that the first principles of this nation are the blueprint for government.
How the state might spare public, businesses the initiative confusion
Mike Reitz, general counsel for the Freedom Foundation, a libertarian-leaning research group in Olympia, said there’s no telling when the Supreme Court will rule on I-1183, though he thinks the justices will uphold the measure.
Get the Facts on SJR 8205
We are highlighting the facts about each 2011 ballot measure every day this week. Before you cast your vote, make sure you get the facts about SJR 8205.
Informed Voter Guide 2011
It can be tricky to make the right decision when it comes to voting on an initiative. More often than not you don’t have enough information to make a confident choice either way. But now you can get the unbiased facts about the 2011 Washington initiatives by reading our Initiative Guide!
Save Our States
Some ‘reformers’ want to unravel our American system of states. The Evergreen Freedom Foundation’s Save Our States Project is dedicated to preserving these structures for the sake of our liberty, security, and prosperity. Find out more and please join us.
Transparency in Government
EFF is a strong advocate of open and accountable government. Transparency in government spending and decision-making serves as a powerful deterrent against corruption and decreases the cynicism people have about their government.
As part of our Transparency in Government Project, we will work with state and local leaders to shine more light on the spending practices of state and local governments, higher education, property taxes and K-12 education.
Electoral College wins in Louisiana
This two-step method for electing the President of the United States works, at least if you value things like liberty and justice. The genius of our constitutional systems of government (federal and state), are that they create institutions, structures, and processes that rest power with the people, but channel our exercise of that power in ways that tend both to limit government power and to foster political and social stability. Without these things, it is impossible to have a functioning political order or a thriving free market—especially over the long term.The day We The People stood up…
The odds were against them. The soldiers were well armed and well trained; many were hardened veterans. The townspeople were the opposite—mostly ordinary men and women with small farms or businesses and large families. By offering any opposition to the soldiers, the people risked their lives, possessions, families—everything. Yet hundreds and later thousands would step away from ordinary lives and decide that they, too, were willing to stand, to fight, even to die.3 Things Every Washington Voter Needs to Know in 2012
The legislative process has been compared to a sausage factory, but this would be far too kind to apply to Olympia. The sausage factory does, after all, successfully produce sausage. This year, and for several years, one-party control of Washington state government has failed. It has failed to meet deadlines, failed to balance budgets, and failed to enact simple and popular reforms. This fall, voters will choose who will represent them in the legislature—who will sit in the 98 seats in the State House of Representatives and at half of the 49 desks in our State Senate. It is worth remembering that state government is more involved in our daily lives than the federal government. And state government is easier to change.5 Ways You Can Make a Difference in 2012
Everyone seems to agree: 2012 may be a pivotal year for our nation. And it certainly seems likely in Washington state. In a system where the people get to vote and we send our representatives to local, state, and federal offices, it’s up to each of us to do our part. Here are five things you can do right now and over the course of this year to protect and advance freedom.Partial victory in open government case against state ferry system
If a state-run passenger ferry crashes does the public have a right to see investigative records? This was the issue in a ruling issued by the Court of Appeals in Freedom Foundation v. Washington State Department of Transportation.
Executive Privilege Case Receives Widespread News Coverage
It’s not often that an issue generates support from all across the political spectrum, but the Freedom Foundation has done it with our legal challenge to Gov. Gregoire’s broad claims of executive privilege.
Governor Hides Records on Judicial Appointments
Judges are elected in Washington, but when the governor makes a vacancy appointment, the public doesn’t get to see the appointment process.
Governor Hides Viaduct Replacement Records
The Alaskan Way Viaduct is the double-decked highway that runs along the Seattle Waterfront, carrying up to 110,000 vehicles a day.
Final radio version of RFW, but much more to come
The last show in the original format offers an inside look at The Heritage Foundation’s Resource Bank conference in Colorado Springs and some reflections on the world-wide movement for individual liberty and free markets, as well as the blessings of political stability that we enjoy in our country. Plus, what do law students think about the Electoral College, and about the Constitution in general? And if you want to know more about the Constitution, you can find it at WeThePeopleHQ.org.
Here it is, the new Radio Free Washington Podcast
The moment we’ve all been waiting for ... except for Blake, who missed our inaugural show. Listen to four of the Freedom Foundation’s freedom fighters talk about the “war on women,” the party habits of various federal agencies (GSA, Secret Service…), Gov. Gregoire’s steal-of-a-deal with the tribal casinos (steal for the casinos, that is), and more. And join the conversation at the Radio Free Washington’s Facebook page.
OG Pod: State Pays Millions for Public Records Violations
Mike Reitz and Greg Overstreet discuss KING 5’s recent report that the state has paid $4.8 million over five years for public records violations.
OG Pod: A Legislative Update
Mike Reitz and Greg Overstreet discuss several bills introduced in the 2012 legislative session.
