The local political world has been chattering for days about whether Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman would add to his $1.1 million investment in the anti-tolling, light-rail-derailing Initiative 1125.

Today brings an answer, as Freeman and Microsoft (the biggest donor to the campaign against I-1125) announced in a joint press conference in Bellevue that they will each be giving $1 million to a campaign to build a new performing arts center in Bellevue—and no more money to either side of the I-1125 fight.

Microsoft was represented at the press conference by Executive Vice President Brad Smith, who Freeman considers a friend. But, Freeman told me over the phone just now, "That doesn't mean that he's given up on his ideas politically, or that I've given up on mine."

Does it mean Freeman has given up on I-1125 passing?

"No," Freeman told me. "Oh God, no. The best thing that could happen for transportation is for 1125 to pass."

All the available polling shows I-1125 with over 50 percent approval, which is all it needs to pass. But without more money from Freeman, there won't be money for a pro-1125 media campaign in the final days before voting ends. Meanwhile, the campaign against I-1125 still has about $1 million to spend to get its message out.

Freeman reminded me that the ballot title—which only mentions restrictions on tolling, and not the potential effects on light rail—polls extremely well. It's certainly produced winning results so far, according to the available polls, and it looks like Freeman's counting on that to pull him through to victory. That, he said, "and just the common sense of the voter."