Here is a brief summary of our meeting this past Saturday, and there is also an action you can take below:
David Kipnis from the effort to pass a Green Amendment here in Washington state spoke to our group. There are currently efforts in 17 states to pass a Green Amendment, and the three states that currently have such a constitutional amendment are Montana, Pennsylvania, and most recently New York. David stressed that an important reason for a Green Amendment (GA) is that there are often loopholes that laws don’t address, and the GA closes those loopholes. David has asked that we look at the GA, study it, then pass a resolution at our next meeting in support.
1. You can find that wording of the GA at https://docs.google.com/document/d/16aur6bssf5xx8DhBObJ2lOOo3VO6Gnm_UVa-KA7BTEA/edit#heading=h.jdpqpeoowj5k
2. You can find an article on the recent Montana case at
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2023-08-15/montana-climate-lawsuit-could-set-a-precedent-for-other-states
3. Finally, you can read about all the cases brought under the GA (note that NY just passed it two years ago, so fewer cases there)
https://forthegenerations.org/resources/legal-resources/
David encourages us to give Representative Lekanoff a bump to push for a hearing for the GA through Representative Doglio’s Environment and Energy Comm. Here is some suggested language to send her at debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov:
Hello Rep Lekanoff. Recently I participated in a conversation with David Kipnis from the Green Amendment movement here in WA State. I believe this GA is an important and timely resolution that should receive the consideration that it deserves so that Washington state can be a leader in ensuring the welfare of all people today and in the future. Thank you for your work in bringing this forward and we look forward to hearing and participating in testimony on its behalf during the 2024 legislative session.
_________________________________________________________________________
Our second important topic was the question of pursuing an effort to disqualify Trump for the ballot in Washington state under the 14th amendment ban on candidates who have been involved in insurrection. Ken Crawbuck has been working on this, and he contacted the Secretary of State and the Attorney General in the interest of having them take suitable action. However, he was told that the way to accomplish this would be for a private citizen to sue under RCW 29A.68.020. Another way to disqualify Trump is that state law requires that a candidate disclose finances and taxes, which Trump has been loath to do. If you are interested in knowing more about this, look at the attachment to this email. Ken lists ways to get involved with helping, and if you would like to get involved, feel free to contact him at kenc@rockisland.com.
Our discussion also included some of the downsides of pursuing this strategy. One possibility is that if a lawsuit is filed, our attorney general Bob Ferguson, who is running for governor, may be put in a position defending Trump’s right to be on the ballot, which could hurt him in his campaign. Also, some of the rabid Trump supporters may likely get violent if their favored candidate is not on the ballot. In other states controlled by Republicans, they may start trying to keep our candidates off the ballot. Because Trump would not likely win in WA, an alternative might be to pursue keeping Trump off the ballot in a purple state.
Our next meeting will be on January 13, 2024. To get on our mailing list so you can receive the Zoom info to attend the meeting, please go to the membership link on this webpage.