Bob Ferguson

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WASHINGTON

1125 Washington Street SE - PO Box 40100 - Olympia, WA 98504-0100

November 14, 2019

Matthew J. Segal

Jessica A. Skelton

PACIFICA LAW GROUP

1191 Second Avenue, Suite 2000
Seattle, WA 98101-2945

Re: Initiative 976
Dear Mr. Segal and Ms. Skelton:

This is in response to your letter of November 8, 2019, asking this of?ce to ?investigate and
institute legal proceedings? to challenge the constitutionality of Initiative 976 (1?976),
which was enacted by the voters earlier this month.

Just as statutes enacted by the Legislature are entitled to a presumption of constitutionality, so
are statutes enacted by the people. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the role of this of?ce
is to defend duly enacted Washington laws. With that context in mind, I have thoroughly
reviewed your letter and the legal theories you advance, and I ?nd inadequate basis to deviate
from our ordinary role and institute the proceedings that you request. We therefore respectfully
decline to do so.

To the extent that your letter is intended to satisfy a precondition to asserting taxpayer standing,
nothing in this letter is intended to suggest that the requirements for taxpayer standing would be
satis?ed here.

Sincerely,
If f.

L.

L,

NOAH G. PURCELL
Solicitor General
(360) 753-2536

NGP: