King County and the city of Seattle are among two of several plaintiffs to file a joint lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the newly passed initiative on natural gas.

Initiative 2066 prohibits state and local governments from restricting or “discouraging” Washingtonians’ use of natural gas in their homes and businesses. It was one of four initiatives on November’s general election ballot and it was the only one to pass — by about 3.4%.

Now, it’s set to amend state rules on which kinds of energy buildings should use, reverting a push by state legislators to make heating powered through electricity over natural gas.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court, asks a judge to block the implementation of I-2066, which its attorneys said misled voters “about its actual provisions” and violated Washington’s single-subject law.

“This initiative, the way that it’s written, it covers multiple different subjects, not just issues related to natural gas — which is what the initiative supporters focused on and suggested all that was at issue,” Paul Lawrence, an attorney for the plaintiffs and partner with Pacifica Law Group, said. “This has much broader impact on a number of other laws … including energy efficiency, to avoid the disproportionate negative health impacts from air pollution, and these other issues that go far beyond the issue of natural gas.”

Gas clash: Who’s accused of being a ‘pompus turd’ in I-2066 legal threat

The suit claims I-2066 is unconstitutional, citing Article II, Section 9, of the Washington Constitution, which reads, “No bill shall embrace more than one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.”

VP of External Affairs for Building Industry Association of WA comments

Jan Himebaugh, Vice President of External Affairs for the Building Industry Association of Washington called the claims “bogus”

“I think it’s just really sad that, once again, activists who think that they know what’s best for the people of Washington are trying to sort of undermine democracy,” she told “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio Thursday. “The people of Washington spoke and Seattle and King County think they know better, so they’re going to tell the rest of Washington, ‘No, we think you got this wrong’ and that ‘You’re too dumb to know what you’re talking about.’”

While Governor Jay Inslee is not signed as one of the lawsuit’s plaintiffs, he raised the same legal argument just one day after the election, telling the press, “I think there is a very good chance the court will find that it was defective by violating the single-subject rule.”

When asked by KIRO Newsradio whether Inslee or his office had any direct or indirect involvement in the lawsuit, a spokesperson responded over email, “I think you’ll find many have voiced that argument. The governor is not party to the lawsuit.”

Founder of Let’s Go Washington releases statement

Brian Heywood, founder of the political action committee Let’s Go Washington — which heavily supported all four ballot initiatives — released a statement in response to the lawsuit, describing the city of Seattle and King County’s participation as shameful.

“Washington voters made their position clear: they want to protect natural gas and energy choice. Instead of spending time and money suing corporations, perhaps the (Attorney General Bob Ferguson), Seattle and King County should focus on enforcing the law and protecting the will of the people,” Heywood’s statement reads in part.

Despite Ferguson being named multiple times in Heywood’s statement, Ferguson’s office has not taken action to challenge the initiative and, in fact, declined a request to do so from the group bringing the lawsuit. In a letter sent Dec. 6 through their attorneys with Pacifica Law Group, the plaintiffs asked Ferguson’s office to “investigate and promptly institute legal proceedings” on I-2066’s constitutionality. Ferguson’s office replied three days later, rejecting the request and stating that initiatives have a “presumption of constitutionality.”

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Lawrence told KIRO Newsradio the request to Ferguson’s office was merely a procedural necessity to guarantee the plaintiffs had legal standing for such a lawsuit.

“There are dozens, if not more, cases of initiatives that have been declared unconstitutional — like this one,” Lawrence said. “There is a lot of precedence for that, and in fact, we’ll be citing in our brief on the merits a number of Washington state cases that involve this problem of wrongfully combining multiple subjects in the same initiative.”

At the time of publication, no hearing on the lawsuit is currently scheduled. While I-2066 went into effect on Dec. 5, the future of its implementation is uncertain.

Below is Heywood’s statement in full:

Let’s Go Washington is focused on the fairness and accountability of government organizations – the Governor-elect and Governor Inslee have the highest responsibility to side with the people. Washingtonians have voted to protect natural gas from being banned, now it’s time for AG Ferguson and other statewide organizations to enforce this law. If the SBCC won’t follow the law, the governor should demand their resignations.

Meanwhile, as citizens struggle to afford housing and pay their energy bills, shamefully, the City of Seattle and King County are leading the charge to eliminate energy choice and make living more expensive. Washington voters made their position clear: they want to protect natural gas and energy choice. Instead of spending time and money suing corporations, perhaps the AG, Seattle, and King County should focus on enforcing the law and protecting the will of the people.”

Sam Campbell is a reporter, editor and anchor at KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Sam’s stories here. Follow Sam on X, or email him here.

Follow @https://twitter.com/HeySamCampbell

Several buildings in Seattle’s Capitol Hill were evacuated Thursday morning after a backpack was found on the front steps of the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

No chemicals or no explosives were found, KIRO Newsradio reported around 9:45 a.m. Thursday. Officials have given the “all clear.”

12th Ave. & E. Pine St.: Crews conducted multiple tests to determine the area is safe. We are turning the scene over to Seattle Police for them to reopen the area after our crews return to service.

— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) December 12, 2024

At 7:45 a.m., a call came in reporting the suspicious backpack. At East Pine Street and 12th Avenue, four buildings were evacuated as the bomb squad was called to the scene.

According to police, a white powder was found on the backpack. The bomb squad later determined the powder was not explosive, however the hazardous team was working to determine what the white powder was.

Streets around the area were also closed to traffic.

No suspect is in custody, however police tell KIRO 7 that police are looking for a man that may have left the backpack.

There were no reported injuries.

KIRO Newsradio remains on the scene and will provide updates on this developing story.

Hazmat and bomb squad here in #seattle – suspicious pkg left outside the #SPD precinct pic.twitter.com/XiB2sUcdcH

— Luke Duecy (@KIROLukeD) December 12, 2024

The future looks bright for the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks, who appear to be finding their stride under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald.

That future will include some major decisions this offseason.

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There are still four weeks left in the 2024 regular season, but based on what has transpired so far, what are three contractual moves the franchise should make when next offseason comes around? Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard was posed that question during Tuesday’s Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. Below are the three moves he mentioned.

• Extend LT Charles Cross

After a promising first two seasons in the NFL, 24-year-old Charles Cross is performing like the foundational left tackle the Seahawks envisioned when they made him the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 311-pound former Mississippi State standout doesn’t become a free agent after the 2025 season, but he likely has shown enough at this point to warrant an extension prior to the final year of his rookie contract. Cross has been a steady force all season, starting every offensive snap for Seattle and ranking 11th out of 80 tackles across the league in Pro Football Focus grading.

“Charles Cross is playing great football,” Huard said. “These guys don’t grow on trees. They’re unique. They’re unicorns. He does everything right. So you’ve got to lock in your left tackle. … He is a building block at one of the most important positions on a football team. You take care of him first and foremost.”

• Move on from WR Tyler Lockett

Tyler Lockett is the second-leading receiver in franchise history, having racked up 8,505 receiving yards over his decorated 10-year career in Seattle. But over the past two seasons, the 32-year-old wideout’s production has declined. After four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 2019 through 2022, Lockett finished with 894 receiving yards last year while playing through a nagging hamstring injury. And this year, he’s on pace for 668 receiving yards – which would be his lowest total since 2017.

Lockett’s dip in production coincides with a breakout season from second-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who ranks sixth in the NFL with 911 receiving yards. Lockett still has one year remaining on his contract, but likely carries too big of a price tag to warrant keeping him around in 2025, given his status as Seattle’s No. 3 receiver behind DK Metcalf and Smith-Njigba. According to Over The Cap, Lockett’s salary cap hit would surge from nearly $18.9 million this year to nearly $30.9 million next season, which would account for 11% of the team’s 2025 cap space. The Seahawks would save $17 million in cap space by parting ways with Lockett this offseason, according to Over The Cap.

“This is probably it for Tyler,” Huard said. “He has been awesome. … Absolutely incredible. But when you look contractually, it’s just the way it works in the NFL when you’re an older guy and all of a sudden you’re not producing at a (high) level. The one that is the most team-friendly to free up a bunch of money on that cap will be Tyler.”

• Re-sign Ernest Jones IV

Jones has been a revelation since arriving in an Oct. 23 trade with the Tennessee Titans. The fourth-year inside linebacker has been a steadying force in the middle of Seattle’s defense, helping key a dramatic midseason turnaround that’s resulted in the Seahawks holding each of their past five opponents to 18 offensive points or fewer in regulation. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound Jones has racked up 63 tackles and an interception in his six games since joining Seattle, while playing a major role in helping fix the team’s run-defense issues.

“You can’t do a deal yet with (second-year cornerback) Devin Witherspoon or some of those other (young players), so I think it’s Charles Cross first,” Huard said. “I think it’s saying goodbye to Tyler Lockett and hugging him on the way out. And (then) it’s making sure that (Jones) and Tyrice Knight can be your two linebackers for years and years to come.”

Listen to the full Blue 88 segment at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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