On Wednesday, Olympia's Democrats introduced their long-anticipated, yet still maddening repeal-of-Initiative-960's-policies bill. The public hearing on it was held less than 24 hours later, illustrating perfectly their lack of desire to hear from the people. Everyone who testified against it did a phenomenal job. Frankly, the best testimony was from Senator Don Benton who was 'first up' (when a transcript of his remarks is available, I will share them with everyone).
Here's what I had to say (in a suit and tie and without raising my voice at any point):
"Madam Chair, thank you, my name is Tim Eyman and I'm opposed to the bill.
"Citizens are watching arrogant Democrats decide that the rules don't apply to them."
Sen. Prentice (D-Seattle) gavels me down "stick to the bill ... stick only to the bill."
"Yes, Madam Chair.
"The taxpayers have to follow the law, but this bill exempts you from it. The people must abide by the Constitution, but this bill means you are above it.
"Voters have approved I-960's policies 3 times, in 1993, 1998, and 2007. Yet without hesitation, Olympia's Democrats are getting rid of them. Voters have made clear that if state government is going to raise taxes, it must be a last resort requiring either 2/3's of politicians or a majority vote of the people. But I-960 also required more public transparency and more public notice to deter you from sidestepping the rules -- but you're sidestepping them anyway.
"Democrats in Olympia are violating the law, sidestepping the Constitution, and eliminating the public's right to know what they're doing."
At this point, I then looked up at them and provided the rest of my comments off the top of my head:
"What's particularly galling is to watch you take a hatchet to the sunshine provisions of this initiative. To make an argument that the voters don't have a right to know what you're doing, don't have a right to know what your voting records are, especially when you slap emergency clauses on bills to make them exempt from the citizens' right to referendum, is a belief that you are somehow above the law and that the people don't have a right to know what you're doing.
"When the voters elect you, they don't elect you to rule over them, only to represent them.
"And they asked you, told you, 3 times in a row that it oughta be tougher to raise taxes. Now for those who say 'we can't possibly live under these rules' well, you just have for the past two years. The system is working exactly the way the voters wanted it to be done. The voters are being told when you are introducing bills, finding out how much they cost, they're having an opportunity to interact with their elected officials. You don't like the reaction you're getting because all your bills are raising taxes and fees on 'em, but that's the kind of interaction the voters had in mind when they voted for it.
"But they also said if you can't get 2/3's of your colleagues to sign on to a tax-raising bill, put it before the voters. You're not even trying that, you're not even giving the facade that you're even trying to abide by the provisions of it. You're just chucking 'em because the 2 years is up, so now we don't have to the listen to the people anymore.
"I'll close with this Madam Chair because there are other people who want to testify:
"No citizen can do what the Legislature is doing now. Imagine an average citizen saying, well, you know what, I'm not going to pay my taxes, I'm going to wait 2 years and exempt myself from those rules. Or a trucker who says, you know what, I don't want to pay my rent, I'm going to wait 2 years and exempt myself from the requirement. You're abiding by rules that no citizen would ever be able to get away with.
"And everybody is wondering why are we doing an initiative that's restating a law (the 2/3's) that's already on the books. And it's because you guys are saying that 3 times from the voters isn't enough. And that apparently you need to hear 4 times from the voters before you actually start listening to them. I really encourage you to drop going after this stuff about the transparency provisions, getting rid of the 2/3's is bad enough.
"And for you to stick your finger in the eye of the voters and tell them they have no right to know what's going on, I think is the height of arrogance."
Senator Adam Kline (D-Seattle): "I have a question for you ... we have expenses on one hand of the equation, revenues, or lack of them, on the other. ... You've talked about one side of that, as you usually do, I'd like you to talk about the other side, about the expenditures. Let me ask you ... You never, never, ever show it in the budget ..."
I respond: "Let me go ahead and answer the question you just asked. We passed an initiative in the state of Washington that requires our state auditor, from your own party, to identify ways to spend money more effectively. He's identified $3.5 billion in potential savings. And what thanks did he get? You cut his funding in half. You're commitment to doing anything to reform government is non-existent." Kline tries to interrupt, I continue "You don't care about anyone's opinion but your own." Prentice tries to interrupt, I continue: "And the voters of this state have said time and time again that if you're gonna raise taxes, you should follow the rules. And you're exempting yourselves from the very rules that everybody else has to abide by."
Prentice bangs her gavel "OK, that's it, we're done."
From a reporter who covered it: Gavels were rapped, hyperbolic rants were delivered, and anti-tax crusader Tim Eyman declared Democratic legislators to be arrogant sidesteppers of the law in what I would argue was the most entertaining public hearing of the state legislative session so far.
The most effective, constructive, meaningful response to their arrogance? Committing ourselves to getting Initiative 1053 on the ballot. Let their arrogance fuel your efforts.
Please ... HELP!!!!!
http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com
funny, that's exactly what you did.
but i've come to expect you having difficulties with the truth.
Posted by: mike on February 5, 2010 02:49 PMAnd then there was Sen. Eric Oemig from Redmond, smirking, rolling his eyes and snickering, while a regular citizen, Fife resident Jim Copeland, recounted the end of his 20 year business and how he'd had to move into a mobile home park (his point was "I've had to adjust my life to less revenue, why can't government?"). Mr. Copeland called Oemig on it twice during his testimony but Oemig couldn't even pretend to be respectful.
And that happened throughout the hearing: Democrats attacking citizens for having the temerity to challenge them for taking away taxpayer protection policies the voters have repeatedly approved.
Posted by: Tim Eyman on February 5, 2010 03:23 PMYou have to overcompensate to make up for the bad opinion the electeds in Olympia have for you. It's not fair but you/we can't afford the bad press (it was bad press and they may have improperly reported to your/our detriment).
Posted by: swatter on February 5, 2010 03:56 PMThe government letting people know how they even PROPOSE to spend or acquire more of the public's money in definitely NOT a waste of resources. I would call it an excellent use of resources. Giving us the opportunity to voice opposition (or conceivably support in some cases) to bills that are newly introduced, forces the politicians that still support unpopular bills to show where their interests truly lie.
With so many people unemployed or at severely reduced hours (myself included, 40+ hrs/wk last spring to at best that many per month now), I'm sure there are plenty of people in this state that know a thing or two about prioritizing spending & making difficult financial decisions that would love to know the very moment a bill to raise taxes was introduced.
Posted by: Brian on February 5, 2010 04:21 PMIt really shouldn't surprise anyone that the first things they threatened us with were the tear-jerkers (certain social programs) and making appeals to a notion of class inequity. Instead of addressing redundancy and other types of waste, these particular legislators that introduced the bill have decided that it would be in their personal best interests to do away with a popularly supported measure as opposed to having to even consider making some cuts in programs & departments that their names are tied to.
I agree that many people are in desperate need right now. I don't think the solution lies in making it harder for people though, I think it lies in reducing the burden as much as possible.
As far as just raising the taxes on the affluent & "lottery of life" winners...who are they? The bill at hand doesn't say anything about strictly limiting increases to particular people, this bill would allow everybody's taxes to be raised to whatever level the legislative majority decides is best. We already know however, that 'best' means 'best for their political future'.
I try to elect the best people I can, hoping that they will make the best decisions regarding any matter. I support some initiatives (like 960) because the people we elected weren't listening. It's insulting to say the least to be expected to pay for their mistakes at a time when I and others like me are least able.
Posted by: Brian on February 5, 2010 05:24 PMPart of my solution is to cut all Government Salaries by 10%, Benefits by 20% and reduce Paid Time-off by 20% (which will result in staffing cuts).
One other key point to make Tim--
We got into this mess because gregoire caved into the Unions who got her elected and signed UNSUSTAINABLE Budgets back to back.
She has never made an significant cuts.
Now the Democrats & Union benefactors want us to believe these UNSUSTAINABLE wages & staffing levels adopted during the Boom Time are the new baseline for future spending.
BULLSHIT!
Focus on TOTAL COMPENSATION and UNSUSTAINABLE BOOM TIME SPENDING. There are so many examples.
Idea for Dummocrats--
When you have less money coming in????
Spend less.
BTW--
According to my rough calculations, this would save $1 BILLION or so.
Democrats are barkin' up the wrong Tax Increase Tree.
83% Feel the deficit is caused by politicians unwillingness to cut spending.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/general_business/february_2010/83_blame_deficit_on_politicians_unwillingness_to_cut_spending
With that kind of Public Sentiment, do you really believe any tax increase will pass without significant spending cuts first??
Yeah, Right!...Runaway Government along with runaway Unions have certainly made us Competitive and Self-Sufficient in the Domestic and World markets. That's why, we have much more Imports than Exports. That's why, China owns us through the ownership our Treasury Bills and other Credit Instruments plus, being a major supplier of Goods to America. We are becoming more of a Colony of China and others rather than, a Self-Sufficient major Exporting Nation. You Kill off what little of the Productive Elements we have left by Raising Taxes and we will have Nothing to Sustain ourselves! Rather, than Raise Taxes, Taxes should be Cut and Government should be radically Downsized to reduce the Criminal Waste of our Earnings. Corporate Taxes should be done away with completely thus, allowing our Corporations to be able to compete on the Domestic and World markets. Upon, allowing our Corporations to compete, the needed Jobs will become available to uplift the Economy, the Liberty and Lifestyle that goes with it. Has any of this made sense to you? Probably not...You're a Liberal!
""No citizen can do what the Legislature is doing now. Imagine an average citizen saying, well, you know what, I'm not going to pay my taxes, I'm going to wait 2 years and exempt myself from those rules. Or a trucker who says, you know what, I don't want to pay my rent, I'm going to wait 2 years and exempt myself from the requirement. You're abiding by rules that no citizen would ever be able to get away with."
Well, that's right. "An average citizen" and "a trucker" are not allowed to pass laws. The legislature is -- by majority vote. It's in our constitution.
Not that Eyman (excuse me, EYMAN) cares; he'll say anything.
Posted by: Bruce on February 6, 2010 10:23 AMUnless, there is definitive action, the simple majority will become permanent unless the Democraps feet are held to the fire. They are no different than the progressives in congress - they will do anything to prevail, be it unconstitutional or not. When it comes to policies, Gregoire is a carbon copy of Obama and Lisa Brown is another Pelosi. These people must be thrown out in the next election !
Posted by: KDS on February 6, 2010 10:34 PMWe, The People have had enough of the smug faces and middle fingers from our "Representatives" in Olympia and in DC.
They're going to see exactly just how loud our voices are between now and November. They haven't seen anything yet, and I suggest they start acting like our REPRESENTATIVES, instead of our RULERS.
One more thing..... Considering that the crooked, fat-cat unions take up 60% of our budget in this state, perhaps that's where they should start cutting costs.
Posted by: TWG on February 7, 2010 02:25 PM