NEWS RELEASE

November 8, 1995

Contacts:

The Mountaineers, Mariann Mann, (206) 281-8509
People For Puget Sound, Mike Sato, (206) 382-7007
Sierra Club, Bruce Wishart, (360) 754-2386
WA Citizens For Resource Conservation, Jan Glick, (206) 343-5171
WA Environmental Council, Josh Baldi, (206) 622-8103
WA Environmental Political Action Committee, Ed Zuckerman, (206) 632-7440

STATE VOTERS SAY 'YES' TO PROTECTING COMMUNITIES, ENVIRONMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE

(Seattle, WA) State conservation groups today hailed voter rejection of
Referendum 48, the 'takings' measure, as a clear demonstration that
Washington citizens can't be fooled by special interest legislation that
jeopardizes their community's health, environment and quality of life.

"Citizens won't stand for dismantling safeguards that protect the very things
they value in living here," said People For Puget Sound's Kathy Fletcher.
"Tuesday's vote was a vote for healthy communities and healthy economies
throughout the state."

"Voters are smart," said Sierra Club's Bruce Wishart. "Referendum 48 was
bankrolled to benefit big developers, real estate interests and timber
corporations in the guise of helping people. Voters are not fools."

"Legislators who blindly approved the measure last session just got a wake up
call from the grass roots voters," said Ed Zuckerman of the Washington
Environmental Political Action Committee. "In the future, decision makers
need to make sure they put the people's interests above greedy special
interests."

According to Jan Glick of Washington Citizens For Resource Conservation,
healthy communities and economies are based on balanced solutions, not
legislating by anecdotes. "If protecting our community's health and quality
of life is an unfair burden to anyone, we'll continue to work, as we always
have, for fair and reasonable solutions," said Glick.

"Despite Tuesday's vote, the real work of protecting, restoring and cleaning
up the lands and waters of this state is still before us," noted Mariann Mann
of The Mountaineers. "The hard work hasn't gone away, and the sooner we get
down to work, the cheaper it will be and more likely our success."

According to Josh Baldi of the Washington Environmental Council, Tuesday's
vote confirms what poll after poll has shown nationally and locally: "People
continue to strongly favor protecting their quality of life and environment."

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Mike Sato, People For Puget Sound
1326 Fifth Ave. #450
Seattle WA 98101
PH: (206) 382-7007
FX: (206) 382-7006
EM: wk01931 at worldlink.com
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