Fighting for the right to petition our government isn’t just the cry in Oklahoma these days. It’s under attack all across the country. Sadly, the Nebraska Assembly this week overrode the Governor’s veto of a bill that will effectively kill the initiative process in Nebraska unless a successful court challenge can be made.

But for now, we can breath a sigh of relief after surviving a particularly egregious attack in the state of Washington known as Second Substitute House Bill 2601. This bill would have required petitioners to register with the government, have a criminal background check, carry a picture ID when petitioning, and more.

Paul Jacob was just one of many citizen activists that sprung into action to defeat the bill. Paul went to Washington state as part of his “Save the Initiative Tour.” Washington initiative activist Tim Eyman, who led the offensive against HB 2601, when thanking the many, many people who helped stop the anti-initiative bills being debated in this session, said of Paul:

[Paul] was a whirlwind during his three day stay, doing editorial board meetings, meetings with reporters and columnists, talk radio, and interviews. What happened to him is instructive: Mr. Jacob had the gall to help some folks coordinate a signature drive in Oklahoma and because of that state’s anti-initiative laws (like House Bill 2601), he’s now been indicted for criminal conspiracy for helping Oklahomans exercise their rights. He’s traveling the country to show that bills like HB 2601 result in the criminalization of the First Amendment. He’s a true, true hero and patriot.

Eyman added,

One thing is certain: the initiative process is supported by citizens across the political spectrum and they don’t support the Legislature’s efforts to undermine it or take it away.

If only the powers-that-be could come to accept that.