For the Reporter

Voters Want More Choices, an organization dedicated to preserving the right of Washington residents to make laws themselves through voter initiatives, has honored Sen. Pam Roach with its 2016 Legislator of the Year award.

“I am really honored to receive this recognition,” said Roach, R-Sumner. “Those of us who support the constitutional right of the people to speak directly to issues at the ballot box have to work diligently to defend the initiative process from legislative assault.

“For the first time in many years, there was not a single bill this year attacking the citizens’ rights of referendum and initiative. As the chair of the Government Operations and Security Committee, I have made it clear that I will vigorously defend these rights and kill any measure before my committee that tries to make it harder for voters to make their voices heard. I guess Olympia finally got the message.”

In a statement to supporters, the group’s executive director, Tim Eyman, pointed to Roach’s leadership of the committee as a key reason for her selection.

“She’s been such a strong advocate for the initiative process that this year not a single anti-initiative bill was even introduced,” said Eyman. “Anti-initiative legislators have learned that Senator Roach will have none of it.”

This year Roach, who also serves as president pro tempore of the Senate, sponsored a measure aimed at restoring and strengthening the Taxpayer Protection Act by enshrining it in the state’s constitution. The two-thirds majority-vote requirement to raise taxes has been supported by Washington voters six times, in ballot measures stretching over 22 years.

Eyman cited her work to enshrine the popular initiative in the constitution as evidence of her strong advocacy for voters and taxpayers.

“For us, the highlight of the 2016 legislative session was watching Senator Roach’s relentless effort to convince her fellow lawmakers to respect the voters’ approval of Initiative 1366 and refer a 2/3-for-taxes constitutional amendment to the ballot,” Eyman said. “It was heroic. Taxpayers are lucky to have Pam Roach fighting for them. Her strong support for the people’s right to initiative is sincerely appreciated.”