Columnist captures our pro-960 campaign message
30 Sept 2007
When I spoke to the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce recently,
longtime syndicated columnist Adele Ferguson was there. I was asked how
I-960 could possibly win with such a powerful array of opponents on the
con side. I responded "We don't have to worry because we've got Adele
Ferguson on our side." The room of 75 people erupted in applause. She
endorsed I-960 last month. Here's her most recent column that was
published late last week in newspapers throughout the state:
EYMAN TOUTS BENEFITS OF TAX INITIATIVE
By Adele Ferguson
Gov. Christine Gregoire called Initiative 960 "extra handcuffs" on
state tax hikes that aren't needed.
Its author, initiative maestro Tim Eyman, says it is "just a whole lot
of public disclosure" that we haven't had when politicians want to raise
taxes. "They are the most dangerous when they don't think we're looking."
I-960 is the only initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot, although there are a
couple of other controversial measures there on school levies and
insurance. What I-960 does is require the Legislature to come up with a
two-thirds vote in each house to raise taxes or let the people decide via
a majority vote, and be given the details needed to help voters make up
their minds.
Oh, you thought we already approved a two thirds vote requirement?
Well, yes, we did, in I-601 in 1993, but the ever greedy Legislature
devised ways to get around that. I-601 required two thirds majorities to
increase general fund taxes and the Legislature suspended that twice since
then.
Under I-960, if the Legislature goes ahead and increases taxes without
a referendum to the voters, an advisory vote would have to be taken on
whether we agree or disagree. It has no binding power, just a way to
force the lawmakers to take the public pulse anyway. Intent of the
advisory vote is to make them think twice about tax increases. Opponents
call it "intimidation." I suspect them mean "inTimidation."
Fee increases would only require a simple majority vote but they would
have to be voted on by the Legislature, not just imposed by agencies.
Before all this takes place, however, Eyman's public disclosure kicks off
with the Office of Financial Management estimating the ten year cost of
any bill that raises taxes or fees.
An email system for the press and public would make this information
available, along with hearing schedules and voting records of the
legislators acting on the proposal.
Whey all this is necessary, Eyman told a Port Orchard Chamber of
Commerce audience, was that our troops in Olympia are like kids in Toys R
Us. "They want it all," he said. "State and local governments impose and
collect over $50 billion per year from us. Do we ever get a thank you?
There needs to be a little bit of adult supervision of the children in
Olympia."
"It's not too much to ask to keep us informed," he said. "And let's
not forget the emergency clause. We have a constitutional right to do a
referendum on laws they pass but he emergency clause takes that away. Out
of 1,437 laws passed since Gregoire's been Governor, 205 had emergency
clauses, meaning there was a threat to public health and safety without
them."
"When voters said no to a sports stadium, the Legislature jacked up
taxes for it anyway and stuck an emergency clause on. The Supreme Court
said who are we, the courts, to second guess the Legislature so I guess
the children are running the day care."
And no way around it, Eyman said, the Eyman factor has to be taken into
consideration. I.e., people who don't like him or his previous
initiatives. If you're one of those, he said, bear in mind I-960 is
positive public policy, not negative, and try visualizing its sponsor
instead as Martin Luther King or Mother Teresa, rather than Tim Eyman.
Personally, I kind of like Gov. Gregoire's description of it as "extra
handcuffs" on tax hikes except that, considering how quickly she broke her
campaign promises on no new taxes, she's one of the main reasons they're
needed.
Adele Ferguson can be reached at PO Box 69, Hansville, WA, 98340
-- END --
We're working really hard to get I-960 approved by voters. We're
speaking to every group that invites us and proactively meeting with
newspaper editorial boards throughout the state. It's full time work
countering our opponents' campaign of threats, lies, and scare tactics.
Gregoire's attacks on I-960 are starting to come fast and furious.
If you like and appreciate our past, current, and future efforts on
behalf of taxpayers, we sure would appreciate your support.
Your voluntary contribution to our compensation fund will be divided
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We're doing everything we can to push I-960 to victory. As for our
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