Lt. Gov. Brad Owen (D) has ruled that I-960 does indeed require a 2/3 vote in the Legislature to raise taxes, not a simple majority vote as requested by Senate Democrats. Coverage from the TNT's Political Buzz blog here, here, and here. It's more interesting than the AP story.
Posted by Eric Earling at March 01, 2008 09:06 AM | Email ThisI really have to ask -- housing prices are about to sink. The rate of population growth here has slowed.
I don't really see a need for all the big ticket items the Dems are proposing (520, Lite Rail, etc).
I do see a need for some basic road widening and repair (Rte 2, 405, surface street under Viaduct).
For some reason Gregorius is partying like it's 1996 -- but it's not. We're becoming a low growth sleepy old state like Washington was for most of it's history.
We should be trimming rather than expanding at this point. We shouldn't be building anything new...there's no need for it. We should be reducing infrastructure like tearing down 520 so we don't have to worry about it and getting rid of the ferry system entirely.
Today this was emailed to the 6000 supporters on our email list and mailed tomorrow (Monday) to our 25,000 supporters on our (post office) mailing list.
March 2, 2008
To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to all media outlets -- reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and others in newspapers, radio, and TV -- House & Senate members, and the Governor)
From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, email: tim_eyman@comcast.net, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org
RE: Gregoire plans to sue the voters, disrespecting the voters' approval of I-960
Gregoire is sticking her finger in the eye of the voters. She plans to sue the voters, disrespecting the voters' approval of I-960.
It's despicable -- her job is to represent the voters, not to sue them.
Last year, the voters heard Gregoire's arguments against I-960 -- that it's 'extra handcuffs' weren't needed, that we can trust her to not raise taxes. It was a vigorous debate where Gregoire's supporters spent millions of dollars and got their anti-960 message before the voters. Our side spent $0 promoting I-960 (not a single TV ad, radio ad, campaign sign, or bumper sticker). Despite that, the voters approved I-960 -- they voted to reaffirm their longstanding support for two-thirds legislative majority for tax increases (as well as I-960's other public disclosure/transparency provisions). Voters clearly believe that it shouldn't be easy for politicians to raise taxes.
It was a fair fight and Gregoire lost. But rather than accepting the voters' clear decision, Gregoire's going to sue the voters.
It turns out that the Senate's tax hike vote on Friday was choreographed by Gregoire to set the stage for a lawsuit against I-960 (Associated Press headline: Liquor tax defeat lays groundwork for I-960 challenge). Reporters found out that the whole thing was a total charade, that it wasn't a genuine effort to "pay for drunken driving enforcement and substance abuse treatment." No, it was totally scripted as a "legal maneuver" to form the foundation for Gregoire's lawsuit. One news story mentioned why she's pushing for the lawsuit: "in hopes of making it easier for lawmakers to raise taxes." As reported in the Tacoma News Tribune, the Senate's top Republican in budget matters said: "I clearly see it as a thought-out process," Zarelli said of Friday's well-scripted floor speeches to challenge I-960. "They want to get the" two-thirds requirement "out of the way (before the 2009 legislative session)" so they can "raise taxes next year with just a majority vote."
And to think Gregoire is asking you to reelect her for another four years as your Governor.
Throughout 2004, candidate Gregoire repeatedly promised not to raise taxes. Within weeks of being selected Governor, Gregoire shattered those promises. Nearly four years later, her spending is growing at 16% per year while revenue is growing at 6% per year and yet she still promises not to raise taxes if she's reelected. But if she had any intention of keeping her new promises, she wouldn't be suing the voters to get rid of the two-thirds-for-tax-increases requirement.
Zarelli summarized it very well in the Associated Press story: "The people clearly supported it. This is what they wanted," Zarelli said. "Do we honor the democratic process, or do we get to pick and choose?"
Rather than accepting the voters' clear decision, Gregoire is spitting in the voters' face. Gregoire's lust for our tax dollars outweighs her respect for the voters.
Gregoire will obviously have her Democrat puppets file the lawsuit but as head of the Democratic Party, she's clearly the one pulling their strings.
It's an amazing act of arrogance for Gregoire to sue the voters while asking them to vote for her.
We do everything we can to fight for taxpayers. But to avoid having to constantly swim upstream, it's critical to vote against those politicians who repeatedly refuse to listen to the voters.
What we recommend is for everyone to fight back by redoubling your efforts to get this year's initiative on the ballot. The absolute best defense is a great offense -- and that's exactly what I-985 is.
We have until July 3rd to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. ReduceCongestion.org I-985 is a desperately needed, common sense initiative that voters will happily support. But they need you to give them that chance.
Please help ensure the success of this year's taxpayer protection initiative.
FULL STEAM AHEAD!
Best Regards, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, email: tim_eyman@comcast.net, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org
P.S. Here's a quick summary of this year's initiative: ReduceCongestion.org I-985 implements the State Auditor's recommendations to reform the Department of Transportation and reduce traffic congestion by using existing public resources more effectively. It opens carpool lanes to everyone during non-peak hours, requires local governments to synchronize traffic lights on heavily-traveled arterials and streets, and increases roadside assistance funding to clear out accidents faster with the implementation overseen by the State Auditor. These policies are funded by taxes and charges we already pay: 15% of vehicle sales taxes, revenue from fines generated from red light traffic cameras, and a percentage that previously went to art on transportation-related public works projects. Finally, I-985 doesn't impose tolls, but it institutes critical taxpayer protections if tolls are created and levied.
ReduceCongestion.org (Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative) . PO Box 18250 . Spokane . WA . 99228 . PH: 425-493-8707 . FAX: 425-493-1027 . http://www.ReduceCongestion.org . email: jakatak@comcast.net