Voters Want More Choices

For Jack, Mike, and me, there is nothing more gratifying than being effective political activists on behalf of taxpayers. With the support and enthusiasm of thousands of our supporters throughout the state, we've accomplished a great deal over the years. Here's a summary of our efforts together along with a really informative taxpayer-savings scorecard:

1995 (Tim): Got started with an initiative to force a public vote on the first sports stadium (I got a "whopping" 100 signatures at Greenlake Park, a few blocks from our previous Seattle home) - initiative qualified and voters said "no" to the sports stadium, but the Legislature said "yes, this sports stadium is a state emergency." That single, arrogant legislative act was the catalyst that inspired my political activism.
1997 (Tim & thousands of supporters statewide): co-sponsored and kicked off I-200 (banned race and gender preference affirmative action by state and local governments) - worked for nine months on it but ultimately begged John Carlson to take it over in September, 1997 because the signature gathering was going horribly - he and civil rights icon Ward Connerly from California successfully carried it over the finish line in 1998, with voters approving it 58%-42%
1998 (Tim & thousands of supporters statewide): did the NO CAR TAX INITIATIVE which would have repealed the state motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) over a two-year period -- didn't get enough signatures
1998 (Jack & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did a different vehicle tab reduction initiative and a separate property tax reduction initiative - didn't get enough signatures
1999 (efforts from this year forward involved the time, effort, and hard work of Tim, Jack & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-695 (repeal state MVET, voter approval for tax increases), 514,000 all-volunteer signatures, 2nd highest number of signatures in state history, voters approved it 56%-44%, courts said "no" - Locke & Legislature prodded to repeal state MVET (breakdown of tax savings is outlined below)
2000 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-722 (2% limit on property tax increases), voters approved it 56%-44%, courts said "no" - did I-747's 1% limit in response
2000 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-745 (90% of transportation taxes must be spent for roads), voters rejected it 40%-60%
2001 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-747 (1% limit on property tax increases), voters approved it 58%-42%, took effect without a single legal challenge (breakdown of tax savings is outlined below). Tightest limit on property tax growth of any state in the nation.
2002 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-776 ($30 Tabs for Everyone), voters approved it 52%-48%, lower court said "no" but state supreme court upheld it in 2003 and $39.2 million in refunds were mailed out shortly after. Nevertheless, Sound Transit refused to abide by the court's ruling and we returned to the state supreme court in 2006. Sound Transit's continued collection of $60 million per year from a tax explicitly repealed by the voters seemed totally wrong to us but the High court ruled in 2006 that since I-776 didn't EXPLICITLY require them to retire the bonds backed by the voter-repealed tax, they could continue to collect it. A subsequent initiative will be necessary to stop Sound Transit from collecting this voter-repealed vehicle tax.
2002 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): We lobbied hard and succeeded at getting R-51, the $8 billion transportation tax increase, put to a public vote (special interest groups, politicians and the press wanted to pass it in Olympia). Voters rejected it 38%-62%, so thanks to our efforts, an $8 billion transportation tax increase was never implemented (in 2003, Locke & the Legislature ignored the voters' rejection of R-51's $8 billion increase, and unilaterally imposed a $4 billion increase and blocked any attempt by citizens to challenge it. They stuck their finger in the eye of the voters, but at least their $4 billion tax increase is $4 billion less than the $8 billion the voters rejected six months earlier. In other words, the net effect of our battles succeeded at saving taxpayers $4 billion)
2002 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-267 (vehicle sales taxes spent for roads), didn't get enough signatures but the I-267 campaign very likely contributed to the defeat of R-51, the Legislature's $8 billion transportation tax increase because I-267 offered voters a no-new-taxes alternative to R-51
2003 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-807 (renew I-601's policies), didn't receive enough signatures but the Legislature's temporary suspension of I-601 expired at the conclusion of the 2003 legislative session so I-601's 2/3's for tax increases requirement, the anchor provision in I-807, is now law again. Also, we successfully blocked bills for tax increases and protected the initiative process from an unprecedented legislative jihad
2003 (Tim, Jack, & Mike): filed STOP SOUND TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL initiative, but we got early feedback from supporters that it would be better to wait for state supreme court ruling on I-776 first. Never tried to get signatures, no money raised
2004 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-864(the 25% Property Tax Initiative) that would have reduced property taxes$550 million per year. It got 156,000 signatures but needed 198,000. Polling showed that it would have passed easily. This was a critical first step in our efforts to lower property taxes for everyone in Washington.
2004 (Tim and a new coalition of supporters): did I-892 (Just Treat Us The Same) and got qualified for the ballot with 274,000 signatures. I-892 lowered property taxes for citizens but didn't cost the government a penny. It would have reduced property taxes $400 million per year. But tribal casinos spent an unprecedented $6 million against it, the most money spent against an initiative in state history.
2004 (Tim and the King County Corrections Guild): did I-18 which shrinks the size of the King County Council from 13 politicians to 9. Got over 71,000 signatures, more than double the number necessary to qualify. The Cadillac Council tried to sabotage the effort but a lawsuit with Tim Eyman as lead plaintiff and several King County residents as co-plaintiffs succeeded and gave the voters the final say. The voters overwhelmingly approved the initiative and 4 politicians are out of a job in 2005 because of this common sense reform initiative.
2005 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did the Performance Audits of Government Initiative I-900, the 900 pound gorilla. The measure directs the state auditor to conduct comprehensive performance audits of state and local governments and their agencies, programs, and accounts. The audits are paid for with 1/100th of 1% of the state's existing sales tax. In Washington, it's been against the law to learn whether our tax dollars are being spent as cost-effectively as possible. This exciting initiative makes tax hikes unnecessary. It will change government forever. We had from February through early July, 2005 to gather 225,000 signatures and we turned in 313,000, easily qualifying for the ballot. In November, 2005, the voters overwhelmingly approved I-900 by a huge margin, ensuring greater government accountability for decades to come.
2005 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did "Hands Off the People's Initiative" I-905. The measure protects the initiative and reference process. I-905 prohibits legislative changes to the initiative and referendum process unless approved by voters at a general election, and provides expedited judicial review of legislation to determine if its subject to referendum. Politicians need to keep their dirty, stinking hands off the citizens' right to initiative. The Legislature's ongoing legislative jihad against the constitutionally protected rights of citizens is outrageous. This exciting initiative would protect our rights to free speech and political participation. We had from February through early July, 2005 to gather the 225,000 signatures necessary to qualify for the November, 2005 ballot. Never tried to get signatures, no money raised.
2006 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did "Save Our $30 Tabs" Initiative I-917 -- formerly called "SaveOur30Tabs.com." The measure would have reestablished the cost of registering a vehicle -- cars, trucks, vans, SUV's, RV's, motor homes, motorcycles, etc. -- to a flat, fair, reasonable $30 per year. It repealed numerous state and local taxes and fees imposed on vehicles, including Governor Gregoire's weight fee on vehicles, Sound Transit's illegal vehicle tax, and other taxes and fees on vehicles and license plates (the Seattle Monorail vehicle tax is no longer being imposed on the taxpayers of Washington). Voters have twice approved $30 tabs and they would have supported this third attempt but the initiative was not certified for the ballot.
2006 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did "Let The Voters Decide" Referendum 65. We sponsored this measure to give the voters the chance to have a public vote on House Bill 2661. Such an impactful public policy change should be made by the voters. Not enough signatures were gathered to qualify.
2007 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did the "Taxpayer Protection Initiative (I-960)." We sponsored this measure to make it tougher for state government to raise taxes:
* Allow either two-thirds legislative approval or voter approval at an
     election for any tax increase,
* Ensure a public vote on any tax increase that the Legislature
     blocks by declaring it an "emergency," and
* Require public press releases by the state budget office for any
     bills proposing higher taxes (identifying their long-term costs
     and the bill's sponsors, voting records, and contact information)
     to be promptly and broadly disseminated to the people and the press
     at every stage of the legislative process.
2008 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): introduced the Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative, filed with the Secretary of State's office in the Capitol Dome in Olympia at 11 am, January 4th, the first day initiatives to the people can be filed.

YOU ONLY LOSE IF YOU QUIT AND WE ARE NOT QUITTING!


Donate by Credit Card Donate by Check Newsletters and Articles Join Our Email List Join Our Mailing List Email Us Our Resume Email Jack Fagan

Voters Want More Choices is a grassroots taxpayer-protection organization with about 26,000 supporters throughout the state of Washington. Paid for by Voters Want More Choices :: PO Box 18250, Spokane, WA 99228 :: p 425-493-8707 :: f 509-467-4323
© 2006. Voters Want More Choices. All rights reserved.		created by changemonger.com

HOME PAGE Reduce Traffic Congestion PayPal Donations are via our parent organization "Voters Want More Choices" Donate by Credit Card Donate by Check Text of I-985 (pdf 1.5mb) Newsletters and Articles Join Our Email List Join Our Mailing List Email Us Our Resume Email Jack Fagan Request Petitions by Postal Mail Petitioner Harassment	Our Resume Jack Fagan, Tim Eyman, Mike Fagan Directors of Voters Want More Choices For Jack, Mike, and me, there is nothing more gratifying than being effective political activists on behalf of taxpayers. With the support and enthusiasm of thousands of our supporters throughout the state, we've accomplished a great deal over the years. Here's a summary of our efforts together along with a really informative taxpayer-savings scorecard: 1995 (Tim): Got started with an initiative to force a public vote on the first sports stadium (I got a "whopping" 100 signatures at Greenlake Park, a few blocks from our previous Seattle home) - initiative qualified and voters said "no" to the sports stadium, but the Legislature said "yes, this sports stadium is a state emergency." That single, arrogant legislative act was the catalyst that inspired my political activism. 1997 (Tim & thousands of supporters statewide): co-sponsored and kicked off I-200 (banned race and gender preference affirmative action by state and local governments) - worked for nine months on it but ultimately begged John Carlson to take it over in September, 1997 because the signature gathering was going horribly - he and civil rights icon Ward Connerly from California successfully carried it over the finish line in 1998, with voters approving it 58%-42% 1998 (Tim & thousands of supporters statewide): did the NO CAR TAX INITIATIVE which would have repealed the state motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) over a two-year period -- didn't get enough signatures 1998 (Jack & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did a different vehicle tab reduction initiative and a separate property tax reduction initiative - didn't get enough signatures 1999 (efforts from this year forward involved the time, effort, and hard work of Tim, Jack & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-695 (repeal state MVET, voter approval for tax increases), 514,000 all-volunteer signatures, 2nd highest number of signatures in state history, voters approved it 56%-44%, courts said "no" - Locke & Legislature prodded to repeal state MVET (breakdown of tax savings is outlined below) 2000 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-722 (2% limit on property tax increases), voters approved it 56%-44%, courts said "no" - did I-747's 1% limit in response 2000 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-745 (90% of transportation taxes must be spent for roads), voters rejected it 40%-60% 2001 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-747 (1% limit on property tax increases), voters approved it 58%-42%, took effect without a single legal challenge (breakdown of tax savings is outlined below). Tightest limit on property tax growth of any state in the nation. 2002 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-776 ($30 Tabs for Everyone), voters approved it 52%-48%, lower court said "no" but state supreme court upheld it in 2003 and $39.2 million in refunds were mailed out shortly after. Nevertheless, Sound Transit refused to abide by the court's ruling and we returned to the state supreme court in 2006. Sound Transit's continued collection of $60 million per year from a tax explicitly repealed by the voters seemed totally wrong to us but the High court ruled in 2006 that since I-776 didn't EXPLICITLY require them to retire the bonds backed by the voter-repealed tax, they could continue to collect it. A subsequent initiative will be necessary to stop Sound Transit from collecting this voter-repealed vehicle tax. 2002 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): We lobbied hard and succeeded at getting R-51, the $8 billion transportation tax increase, put to a public vote (special interest groups, politicians and the press wanted to pass it in Olympia). Voters rejected it 38%-62%, so thanks to our efforts, an $8 billion transportation tax increase was never implemented (in 2003, Locke & the Legislature ignored the voters' rejection of R-51's $8 billion increase, and unilaterally imposed a $4 billion increase and blocked any attempt by citizens to challenge it. They stuck their finger in the eye of the voters, but at least their $4 billion tax increase is $4 billion less than the $8 billion the voters rejected six months earlier. In other words, the net effect of our battles succeeded at saving taxpayers $4 billion) 2002 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-267 (vehicle sales taxes spent for roads), didn't get enough signatures but the I-267 campaign very likely contributed to the defeat of R-51, the Legislature's $8 billion transportation tax increase because I-267 offered voters a no-new-taxes alternative to R-51 2003 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-807 (renew I-601's policies), didn't receive enough signatures but the Legislature's temporary suspension of I-601 expired at the conclusion of the 2003 legislative session so I-601's 2/3's for tax increases requirement, the anchor provision in I-807, is now law again. Also, we successfully blocked bills for tax increases and protected the initiative process from an unprecedented legislative jihad 2003 (Tim, Jack, & Mike): filed STOP SOUND TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL initiative, but we got early feedback from supporters that it would be better to wait for state supreme court ruling on I-776 first. Never tried to get signatures, no money raised 2004 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did I-864(the 25% Property Tax Initiative) that would have reduced property taxes$550 million per year. It got 156,000 signatures but needed 198,000. Polling showed that it would have passed easily. This was a critical first step in our efforts to lower property taxes for everyone in Washington. 2004 (Tim and a new coalition of supporters): did I-892 (Just Treat Us The Same) and got qualified for the ballot with 274,000 signatures. I-892 lowered property taxes for citizens but didn't cost the government a penny. It would have reduced property taxes $400 million per year. But tribal casinos spent an unprecedented $6 million against it, the most money spent against an initiative in state history. 2004 (Tim and the King County Corrections Guild): did I-18 which shrinks the size of the King County Council from 13 politicians to 9. Got over 71,000 signatures, more than double the number necessary to qualify. The Cadillac Council tried to sabotage the effort but a lawsuit with Tim Eyman as lead plaintiff and several King County residents as co-plaintiffs succeeded and gave the voters the final say. The voters overwhelmingly approved the initiative and 4 politicians are out of a job in 2005 because of this common sense reform initiative. 2005 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did the Performance Audits of Government Initiative I-900, the 900 pound gorilla. The measure directs the state auditor to conduct comprehensive performance audits of state and local governments and their agencies, programs, and accounts. The audits are paid for with 1/100th of 1% of the state's existing sales tax. In Washington, it's been against the law to learn whether our tax dollars are being spent as cost-effectively as possible. This exciting initiative makes tax hikes unnecessary. It will change government forever. We had from February through early July, 2005 to gather 225,000 signatures and we turned in 313,000, easily qualifying for the ballot. In November, 2005, the voters overwhelmingly approved I-900 by a huge margin, ensuring greater government accountability for decades to come. 2005 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did "Hands Off the People's Initiative" I-905. The measure protects the initiative and reference process. I-905 prohibits legislative changes to the initiative and referendum process unless approved by voters at a general election, and provides expedited judicial review of legislation to determine if its subject to referendum. Politicians need to keep their dirty, stinking hands off the citizens' right to initiative. The Legislature's ongoing legislative jihad against the constitutionally protected rights of citizens is outrageous. This exciting initiative would protect our rights to free speech and political participation. We had from February through early July, 2005 to gather the 225,000 signatures necessary to qualify for the November, 2005 ballot. Never tried to get signatures, no money raised. 2006 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did "Save Our $30 Tabs" Initiative I-917 -- formerly called "SaveOur30Tabs.com." The measure would have reestablished the cost of registering a vehicle -- cars, trucks, vans, SUV's, RV's, motor homes, motorcycles, etc. -- to a flat, fair, reasonable $30 per year. It repealed numerous state and local taxes and fees imposed on vehicles, including Governor Gregoire's weight fee on vehicles, Sound Transit's illegal vehicle tax, and other taxes and fees on vehicles and license plates (the Seattle Monorail vehicle tax is no longer being imposed on the taxpayers of Washington). Voters have twice approved $30 tabs and they would have supported this third attempt but the initiative was not certified for the ballot. 2006 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did "Let The Voters Decide" Referendum 65. We sponsored this measure to give the voters the chance to have a public vote on House Bill 2661. Such an impactful public policy change should be made by the voters. Not enough signatures were gathered to qualify. 2007 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): did the "Taxpayer Protection Initiative (I-960)." We sponsored this measure to make it tougher for state government to raise taxes: * Allow either two-thirds legislative approval or voter approval at an election for any tax increase, * Ensure a public vote on any tax increase that the Legislature blocks by declaring it an "emergency," and * Require public press releases by the state budget office for any bills proposing higher taxes (identifying their long-term costs and the bill's sponsors, voting records, and contact information) to be promptly and broadly disseminated to the people and the press at every stage of the legislative process. 2008 (Tim, Jack, & Mike and thousands of supporters statewide): introduced the Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative, filed with the Secretary of State's office in the Capitol Dome in Olympia at 11 am, January 4th, the first day initiatives to the people can be filed. YOU ONLY LOSE IF YOU QUIT AND WE ARE NOT QUITTING!





Solving Problems Politicians Won't, In Washington State

Our Resume