Eyman's been approved

Ballot initiative backer Tim Eyman, who is looking to get his I-985 on the ballot this fall, has officially been approved to take a $250,000 home equity line of credit out on his house in order to fund his latest venture. Eyman announced in April that he no longer had the financial backing of Mike Dunmire, and would be taking out the loan with hopes that his grassroots backers would be able to pay it back between now and the election.

"I'm jumping off a big cliff," he told supporters back then, "please help catch me."

Beginning tomorrow, he will reap the thrill of the jump when he picks up the first $50,000 installment of the loan. He included media and supporters in a bcc while replying to the bank loan officer with a request for the first large installment Friday morning.

"Please prepare a $50,000 cashiers check tomorrow morning -- I'll pick it up around 11 am Friday," Eyman said in the e-mail. "Make it payable to:  Reduce Traffic Congestion. I'll be needing subsequent disbursements throughout the month of June and early July -- I'll try to give you at least a one-day notice for each one."

Let the campaign begin in earnest.