07/07/06 FB submits signatures for I-933

Washington Ag July 7, 2006 The Washington Farm Bureau and the Property Fairness Coalition yesterday submitted more than 315-thousand signatures in support of Initiative 933. Appel: "That gives us more than enough cushion. We know that we are going to be on the ballot this fall and know that the Washington voters are going to have the opportunity to vote for more fairness in how property is treated in this state." Washington Farm Bureau President Steve Appel, a wheat grower from eastern Washington, speaking from Olympia yesterday about the initiative which would require state and local government to compensate property owners when regulations damage the use or value of private property. Confident I-933 has more than the 225-thousand valid signatures required to place it on the November ballot, Appel explains what it will take to get the votes to pass it. Appel: "Our key is we have 315-thousand people that signed the ballot. All we need to do is get each of those people to convince two more people to vote for it along with them and we are on our way. Noting the celebration of the nation's 230th birthday earlier this week, Appel thinks the only question the Founding Fathers would have about I-933 is why it has taken so long. I'm Bob Hoff.