Monday, January 4, 2010
To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to the media, house & senate members, and Governor)
From: Our Expanded Team of co-sponsors for this year's initiative: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, Mike Dunmire, Senator Don Benton, Senator Janea Holmquist, Erma Turner, Nancy Nelson, Dagny Lord, & Keli Carender, ph: 425-493-9127, email: tim_eyman@comcast.net, http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com (go to our website to do a secure donation by VISA/Mastercard/PayPal or print out the form below, fill it out, and return it with a check or money order or credit card information)
RE: Campaign kick-off STARTS TODAY for "Save 2/3's Vote For Tax Increases" -- we'll be pushing this initiative in 2010
The "Save 2/3's Vote For Tax Increases" Initiative is really needed and really helpful to taxpayers. Two years ago, we sponsored and voters passed Initiative 960 requiring 2/3's legislative approval for tax increases. In 2008 and 2009, Gregoire and the Democrats didn't raise taxes because of it. THAT SAVED TAXPAYERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND SAVED OUR FRAGILE ECONOMY FROM RECESSION-EXTENDING TAX HIKES.
Now they want to get rid of the 2/3's requirement -- our 2010 initiative brings it right back again -- our initiative is, by far, the most effective way for us to fight back against Gregoire's effort to raise taxes, especially a state income tax.
The campaign for this initiative starts today. We'll be formally filing it as an initiative to the people in Olympia next Monday, January 11th. The petitions will be sent out to everyone by mid-February. We have until early July to raise the funds and gather the signatures necessary to qualify the initiative for the November ballot.
We are scrambling to raise the funds necessary to do our first post office mailing to everyone on our database to kick-off our campaign (a whopping 26,000 supporters). Your financial support is really critical, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK. Please donate TODAY or at least some day this week so we can give everyone a chance to help.
Let's remember how hard-fought our victory was for I-960:
* In 2007, we sponsored I-960 which closed loopholes the Legislature put in I-601 over the years. Most significantly, it resurrected the 2/3's legislative vote requirement for raising taxes.
* Even before we turned in the signatures, a bunch of sleazy special interest groups went to court to block the Secretary of State from accepting the signatures.
* Attorney General Rob McKenna and his legal team successfully defended the taxpayers and the Secretary of State accepted the signatures.
* Then, after I-960 was certified for the ballot, they sued again to block the public from voting on it.
* Attorney General Rob McKenna and his legal team successfully defended the taxpayers and the State Supreme Court ruled 9-0 to allow the public to vote on it.
* The voters approved I-960, even though during the campaign for it, we were outspent $1.3 million to zero.
* I-960 became law in December 2007 and during 2008 and 2009, it stopped Gregoire and the Democrats from raising taxes. It worked and is working exactly as voters intended.
* In 2008, Lisa Brown went to court to get the 2/3's requirement overturned.
* Attorney General Rob McKenna and his legal team successfully defended the taxpayers and the State Supreme Court unanimously rejected Brown's lawsuit.
Now, Gregoire and the Democrats are promising to take away that hard-fought-for 2/3's vote requirement and RADICALLY RAISE TAXES, despite the voters' clear decision on I-960 and despite the hard work of our thousands of supporters, petition signers, voters, and AG McKenna's efforts.
We will fight back against their arrogant assault on the taxpayers and their disrespect for the voters.
Our initiative in 2010 brings back the 2/3's vote requirement for tax increases.
That's what we're fighting for in 2010.
The question before you is this: are you willing to let them get away with it or will you help us fight back?
If you're willing to help, go to our website. Thanks.
Keeping liberals on their heels and not moving forward is a good step towards victory, and making dems actually talk about their tax policies ALWAYS helps to make them keep their unyielding appetites in check.
Posted by: johnny on January 4, 2010 12:56 PMOlympia Office
307 Legislative Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0403
(360) 786-7604
DISTRICT OFFICE
25 W. Main, Suite 239
Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 456-2760
The problem isn't that there's not enough taxes being paid, Senator, the problem is your big government mentality that doesn't spend what you're given responsibily.
It's high time we starve this beast...
Posted by: Rick D. on January 4, 2010 02:01 PMI understand the argument (even if we lose, we win) but this initiative WILL BE SUCCESSFUL if we can get it qualified for the ballot:
* Voters have approved the 2/3's vote requirement for tax increases 3 TIMES (I-601 in 1993, R-49 in 1998 and I-960 in 2007)
* Gregoire and the Democrats are going to have to vote to get rid of the 2/3's requirement (not popular) this session and then they're going to raise taxes ALOT (very unpopular) this session. The vote by the people will be a few months later.
* Even newspaper editorial boards are against higher taxes right now -- with the Seattle PI gone, EVERY ONE OF THEM has editorialized STRONGLY against higher taxes.
http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com
Posted by: Tim Eyman on January 4, 2010 02:03 PMWhy can't we have a constitutional amendment requiring this and other limits on taxes and spending?
There is a rumor that aside from the constitutional ways of amending a constitution, the people themselves can hold a convention and adopt an amended constitution, just like they adopted the constitution from the beginning.
Would it make sense to start rumbling for a Washington State People's Constitutional Convention on proposes limits to taxes and spending?
Posted by: Jonathan Gardner on January 4, 2010 02:48 PMI completely agree and plan to support you.
I was kind of directing that "even if we lose we win" point at the posters that are saying your last initiative pushes have been a waste of time. (Though my guess is that the posts about this are really all coming from a single idiot and his "sock puppet" friends.)
Good luck with the effort Tim.
Posted by: johnny on January 4, 2010 03:10 PMWhat does it take to convene a state constitutional convention? People can't just do it by themselves, Tea Party style. There has to be legal authority behind it. Perhaps your next task, Jonathan.
Posted by: Roger P. on January 5, 2010 12:57 AMIn the state of Washington, the only way to change the Constitution is to get the Legislature to start it (2/3's house, 2/3's senate, vote of the people). unlike other states, initiatives can't amend the Constitution. There is no constitutional convention option either.
and obviously, the Legislature is never going to start, let alone vote for, a constitutional amendment that makes it tougher to raise taxes.
the 2/3's vote requirement is already the law -- it's been in effect for the past 2 years -- there is no problem with it -- in fact, a unanimous state supreme court rejected Lisa Brown's lawsuit against it -- it's just that Gregoire and the Democrats think that voters have forgotten about it and won't notice them getting rid of it.
We're going to put a very bright spotlight on their effort to take away the 2/3's vote.
Remember, it stopped them from raising taxes in 2008 and 2009, something they really, really wanted to do. THAT SAVED TAXPAYERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
By far, the most effective counter-offensive to Gregoire's 2010 tax-hiking agenda is this initiative.
Posted by: Tim Eyman on January 5, 2010 08:30 AMhttp://www.leg.wa.gov/LAWSANDAGENCYRULES/Pages/constitution.aspx
Article XXIII
Posted by: Douglas Aldrich on January 5, 2010 08:33 AMI knew you 'got it' but wanted others to read our response to your post. And yes, many of the posters seem to be posers and seminar callers.
Thanks for your support. It means alot.
Posted by: Tim Eyman on January 5, 2010 08:49 AMSorry to hear that. All we can do is keep trying/keep fighting/keep going and hope that our supporters will join us and help us.
as for 'political mishandling of these initiatives', voters have approved 8 of our initiatives but not 4 of them - not alot we can do to change that (free will and all that).
as for self-aggrandizement, our goal has always been to draw public attention to our initiatives any way possible, given our lack of financial resources for independent advertising (we can only spend what our supporters provide and when those funds are limited, we have to rely on press coverage).
as for my scandal 8 years ago (wasn't upfront about receiving compensation for my political work), I've tried my best to make up for it by working even harder.
On your final point, it's not either-or. the "people pressure" from our initiatives are helping and so is the tea party movement and so are many others (EFF, WPC, and others).
if you have been a supporter of ours in the past, then I hope you'll consider helping us with this year's initiative.
What do you think of the policy of reinstating the 2/3's vote requirement for tax increases? Gregoire and the D's promise to get rid of it and our initiative brings it right back - do you support that policy?
Posted by: Tim Eyman on January 6, 2010 04:55 PMThe cost to go and see Sarah is only $549.00.
The convention is aimed at bringing the Tea Party Movement leaders together from around the nation for the purpose of networking and supporting the movements' multiple organizations principle goals
The cost to go and see Sarah is only $549.00.
www.nationalteapartyconvention.com
Posted by: Dufus McBroke on January 8, 2010 07:10 AM