NFIB/Washington has officially endorsed Initiative 1033.

Results from a special ballot of NFIB members sent out earlier this month showed more than 93 percent in support of I-1033. Just 4 percent were opposed to it, with the remaining undecided.

"With a looming $117 million workers' compensation tax hike and Gov. Gregoire's announcement that she is open to additional tax increases, it's not surprising that small businesses are demanding some restraint," said NFIB/Washington State Director Patrick Connor.

"Small businesses are struggling just to keep their doors open. Higher taxes jeopardize their ability to stay in business, let alone add the jobs this state needs to pull itself out of recession."

Initiative 1033 will restore some sanity to government budgeting, according to Connor, which has been lost as the Legislature whittled away the spending controls that the people established through I-601.

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Response from the YES on I-1033 campaign:

Small business owners know that raising taxes, which politicians will do unless I-1033 passes, will only make the recession last longer. I-1033 says that state, county, and city politicians can't take more of the people's money - raise taxes, increase fees, inflate property valuations - unless voters approve. Small businesses support this reasonable protection, especially during these tough economic times.

This 93% vote by Washington's NFIB members shatters the ridiculous claim by opponents that 'business opposes I-1033' -- businesses that get taxpayer-financed bailouts and payouts from the government might, but small businesses, the backbone of our state's economy, know that higher taxes will only make these tough economic times last longer.

The 315,000 citizens who signed I-1033's petitions clearly spoke for the small business community on I-1033.

When Democrat Ross Hunter was debating I-1033 before business leaders, NFIB's Patrick Connor courageously asked him: "OK, we keep voting for fiscal discipline with I-601 and other measures and Olympia keeps ignoring our message -- if not I-1033, then how else can we get you guys to listen?" Hunter replied: "Fire the representatives you don't like."

Patrick clearly expressed the same frustration we all have with government officials who refuse to listen to the people on issues, especially those relating to fiscal discipline.