Bigot pastor vows referendum on Washington anti-discrimination bill

[TechBear_Seattle]

With the Washington State Senate's passage of H.B. 2661, "sexual orientation" has been added to the state's anti-discrimination law. According to NorthWest Cable News, Ken Hutchinson, pastor of the Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Washington, has vowed to issue a referendum on the bill.

Under state law, any bill passed by the legislature that is not flagged as an "emergency measure" is subject to a referendum. Basically, once the governor signs a bill, referendum sponsors file a request with the Secretary of State and prepare petition sheets that include the complete text of the law as signed. Sponsors then have until 90 days after the end of the legislative session that passed the bill to collect signatures from legal voters totalling or exceeding 4% of the total votes cast in the previous election for Governor (currently 112,440 signatures.) If enough valid signatures are collected, the new law is suspended and the bill is placed before the people of the state in the next November general election.

The best possible outcome would be if the bigots fail to collect enough signatures. If this measure goes to the ballot, there is a good chance it will fail. If it fails, it is unlikely that the Legislature will try to pass it again any time soon.

What I find extremely ironic is that Hutchinson is black. I can't help but to wonder how he would feel if an initiative were put forth to remove "race" from the state's anti-discrimination laws. In fact, if this gets to the ballot, I am seriously tempted to propose that very same initiative.

[DELUSIONAL]

1. no surprise there -- the religious right wing nuts are strong in WA

They have taken over several school boards -- religion (their sick brand of Christian crap) is being taught in some high schools and some biology teachers are teaching religion -- "intelligent design".

WA has a lot of very hateful people, as well as progressives and liberals.

[1620rock]

3. Bigots come in all colors... n/t

[ruggerson]

2. This is the same guy, if I'm not mistaken

that tried to blackmail Microsoft

[Selatius]

4. Let me get this straight

If a referendum is triggered yet fails, the law still stays suspended???

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. Sorry. Here's a bit more on how it works

New state laws do not take effect until 90 days after the end of the legislative session, excepting "emergency" laws which take effect the moment they are signed. A referendum sponsor has until that clock runs out to submit enough signatures to force a referendum. If the sponsor fails to turn in enough valid signatures, the law takes effect as scheduled. If enough valid signatures are turned in within the deadline, the law does not take effect until after the November election. If the referendum passes, the law takes effect on January 1.

Hope that clears things up a bit :hi:

[Selatius]

8. Well, I hope it fails. Then there is nothing stopping the law

Here in Mississippi voters by a strong majority outlawed gay marriage and I believe civil unions as well.

[leftstreet]

5. Go for it! I can't believe the irony in what Hutchinson is doing.

And you're right, if he gets enough signatures a ballot measure would fail.

[insleeforprez]

7. BRING IT ON

Mr. Hutchinson, you will be sorely surprised that the people of Washington state do NOT support discrimination and bigotry.

Bring it on. We'll clean your clock.

[BR_Parkway]

9. Why can't wingnuts be more like the Amish, just create their own

little place, very closed with their own rules and customs, teach all their kids at home, live without TV & Radio (there go OxyRush's ratings), sell their SUV's and ride a horse

It could be their own little nirvana, safely padded away from all us heathens

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. It certainly would be nice, but....

Such isolationism is the antithesis of the Talibangelical agenda: to assume control of the United States, purge the country of all impure elements, then launch Armageddon with the plan of initiating the Millennium. The result is to prompt a long-overdue Jesus to return.

Hopefully, their movement will be disrupted by a civil war over whether Jesus will return before or after the Millennium :)

[John Grevstad]

11. Eventually, Hutcherson will lose

While there are religious kooks everywhere, Washington is still a liberal state. Women senators and governors, Democrats in charge in state legislature. It also helps that Washington is one of the most un-churched states in the country. The churched areas --Baptist and Evangelical-- have always been the most bigoted areas in the country.

Hopefully, when the Religious Right in Washington lose this battle, they will show their convictions and boycott the state of Washington. I know... they could all settle in Iran, where there religious conservatism truly belongs.

[insleeforprez]

12. Tim Eyman has filed the initiative

<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/257543_eyman30ww.html>