Sound Politics Public Blog: Like Hogs at the Trough II

January 09, 2008

Like Hogs at the Trough II

Today there is real (as in more than just talk) good news about action to reign in local government in King County--YES! It's not so much that the Port of Seattle is still receiving a well deserved public black eye from its recent woeful audit, nor is it because there is now a criminal probe in the matter (institutions like the Port, King County, and City of Seattle are adept at weathering bad PR and even seeking profit from scorn), it is because Tim Eyman is on the j-o-b, again.

The real mechanism that causes the culture of corruption in government is something called "free money". In the Port's case some of that free money comes from the permanent property tax levy on King County property owners. Today it is reported that Mr. Eyman is considering drafting legislation to revoke that levy--In essence he stands on the verge of slaying yet another dragon that menaces to the good people of this region. Hallelujah!

Once this beast is dispatched we need to band together and defeat these things before they ever take flight again. My deepest wish is that this blog could develop into a well-used meeting room to exchange ideas on how to restrict state and local government from taking and spending OUR money. Personally, I plan to use this blog to beat the drum calling for many upcoming property tax levies to be killed. I hope some of you enjoy the music.

Posted by Mike98070 at January 09, 2008 07:13 PM | Email This

Comments

1. I'm just enjoying and appreciating the way Tim Eyman has whacked these arrogant pols over the head by getting audits to shine the light of day on the dirt they thought no one would see.
You rock, Tim!

Posted by: Michele on January 9, 2008 08:01 PM

2. Its enjoyable and frustrating at the same time for me. Enjoyable for the obvious reasons. Frustrating because I know that whatever action is taken by the Eyman group to clean up the mess that infects all of King County taxing districts there will be countermeasures that will neutralize those actions... even if it has to go all the way to the Supreme Court. It is simply playing against a loaded deck. After all this I do not expect real reform, only reform on paper. I heard today that the legislature is going to one-up Eyman and remove the Port's taxing authority. How much you wanna bet they remove the authority and not the tax?

Posted by: Mike on January 10, 2008 05:33 PM

3. Just like the democraps adoption of the 1% Property tax and leaving the past banking capacity in place.

Now they want Socialist paid family care, paid for by yes of course a Payroll (INCOME) tax.

Now they want tolls on both 520 AND I90, as well as floating a transportation package asking for even Billions more. Wasn't 520 one of the things promised to be funded by the 9.5 cent per gallon gas tax increase.

And of course none of these projects can possibly use any of the 1.6 Billion surplus, because they spent all that surplus.

And of course none of these projects can use any of the money in their 30 % increase in spending.

Nope.

Just bend over and take it or vote for changing it. November could not come soon enough!

Posted by: GS on January 10, 2008 06:00 PM

4. RE #1- The Port audit was not a result of Eymans initiative. Audits of public agencies by the State Auditor have been standard practice for decades.

Posted by: ITK on January 10, 2008 07:54 PM