Welcome to Permanent Defense, a project of the Northwest Progressive Institute founded in February of 2002 to protect the Evergreen State from bad ballot measures proposed by the militant right wing. Permanent Defense’s primary objective is to safeguard Washington’s common wealth, which funds our schools, transit, roads, parks, libraries, hospitals, police, fire, and emergency medical services… or, more concisely, all of the great public services that we as a people have created through the years through the wise investment of our tax dollars.

In years past, our common wealth has been threatened and attacked by a steady onslaught of right wing initiatives designed to paralyze our communities and wreck government. Permanent Defense was created to provide a year-round first response to these harmful ballot measures.

We’re proud that for several years in a row (2021, 2022, and now 2023), no right wing initiatives or referenda have qualified for the statewide ballot in Washington, thanks in part to our work to hold bad actors like Tim Eyman and “Citizen Solutions” (a former signature gathering company) accountable for their dishonesty, deception, and blatant violations of our public disclosure laws.

We are keeping watch: if any threats to Washington’s future look likely to qualify for the ballot in the coming years, Permanent Defense will be ready to respond.