Chaos in Olympia: Security removes Tim Eyman, citizens from WA Senate hearing on Parents’ Bill of Rights changes

Several people, including political activist Tim Eyman, were removed by security during a contentious public hearing with the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee over Washington’s Parents’ Bill of Rights (Initiative 2081).

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1296 intends to modify 15 parental rights within Initiative 2081, passed last June, while ridding three rights specific to medical service and treatment altogether.

“My bill is student-centered; it starts with what students need to have conditions to where they feel they can belong and see themselves in their school and they are welcomed, so their basic needs are met,” Bill sponsor Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, said the public hearing.

But Eyman claimed those who showed up to voice displeasure over the changes to the Parents Bill of Rights were unfairly silenced.

“The room was packed with citizens who took the time on a weekday to drive to Olympia to testify against it. The Democrats knew they were going against what the people want,” Eyman wrote, recapping the hearing. “So what did the Democrats do? They prevented citizens opposed to the bill from testifying.

“Over and over and over again, they called up people who were pro on the bill, going out of their way to give preference to people who were testifying remotely (who weren’t even in the room!),” Eyman continued. “This farce went on for an hour. After the last three testifiers—all in favor of the bill—were finished, the Democrat chair announced that the hearing on the bill was over. It was totally outrageous.”

‘They should have the right to be able to speak’

According to Eyman, more than 5,500 regular citizens signed a petition against the bill—80.5%—while just 1,300 favored the changes.

Despite the public comment section of the hearing ending, Eyman approached the stand to tell the Olympia legislators those opposing the bill needed more time to voice their concerns.

“On behalf of the people who are in this room who drove here, they should have the right to be able to speak …” Eyman said before his mic was shut off, followed by the committee calling in security.

“Yes, that’s right, they called in security because a regular citizen was calmly telling them, ‘You’re not listening,’ and they proved it by shutting off the mic and refusing to listen,” Eyman said after the fact.

Eyman moved away from the testimony table once security was called. Approximately a dozen people who hoped to testify against the bill walked out with him.

There’s another hearing on House Bill 1296 and its changes to Initiative 2081 Monday at 1:30 p.m.

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