Tim Eyman creates salary fund [View All]

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Washington State's initiative king is about to become the state's biggest panhandler.

By DAVID AMMONS
AP POLITICAL WRITER

OLYMPIA -- Initiative king Tim Eyman has created a salary fund for himself and two co-chairmen, days after failing to qualify an initiative for the first time in six years.

Eyman told supporters and reporters in an e-mail Monday he has formed a salary fund called "Help Us Help Taxpayers" to compensate himself and father-and-son team Jack and Mike Fagan of Spokane.

The size of the paychecks, which will be cut in December, depends entirely on supporters' generosity.

"It's official now," said critic Christian Sinderman. "Tim Eyman is now the state's highest-paid panhandler."

Eyman, who runs a fraternity watch business out of his Mukilteo home, conceded that he and the Fagans had repeatedly said they would ask for salaries only if they qualified one or both of their 2003 initiatives for the statewide ballot.

He announced Thursday that neither measure had gained enough voter signatures to qualify. They dealt with state tax-and-spending limits and light rail in Puget Sound. Eyman is best known for initiatives that provided $30 car-license tabs and property-tax limits.

On Monday, Eyman asked supporters for their understanding - and their checks.

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