Wednesday, January 6, 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: DESPICABLE: Democrats promise to gut Initiative 960 - citizens have repeatedly voted for 2/3's requirement
Despicable (adjective) de·spi·ca·ble -- so worthless or obnoxious as to rouse moral indignation (SYNONYM: contemptible).
Three times the voters have approved ballot measures requiring 2/3's legislative approval for tax increases, most recently in 2007 with Initiative 960. Democrat Governor Gregoire and Democrat Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown did their dead-level best to convince the voters not to approve the 2/3's requirement -- they made their case vigorously and repeatedly in the campaign -- but in the end, the majority of voters wanted the extra protection that I-960 provides and voted to approve it.
Disrespectful and disdainful of the voters' decision, Lisa Brown pushed a contrived tax increase in 2008 to serve as a vehicle to sue the voters in Court to get the policy overturned. Funded by special interest groups, her lawsuit was unanimously rejected by the State Supreme Court.
Undeterred by what the voters said and what all nine supreme court justices decided, Lisa Brown announced today at the Associated Press Legislative Preview event: "We will be modifying Initiative 960." Most disingenuously, she blamed a minority of legislators for holding up tax increases last year -- in fact, it was the majority of voters that set the 2/3's policy, preventing tax increases in 2008 and 2009 -- legislators had nothing to do with that decision -- it was the voters' approval of I-960 that stood in the way of Democrats' tax-hiking agenda the past two years.
If Olympia is going to take more of the people's money, they need to receive either 2/3's legislative support or they need to get the voters to OK the increase at the ballot box. They need to leave I-960 alone. It is doing exactly what the voters intended. It is really despicable for Gregoire and the Democrats to disrespect and disregard the voters' ballot box decision regarding this 2/3's policy on raising taxes.
The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin said it very well: Gregoire's call for deep cuts in state programs is merely politics. The governor called for deep, painful cuts in the hope it would spur lawmakers to embrace higher taxes. The governor's seemingly draconian budget shouldn't be taken seriously. It was slapped together for only one reason -- to build support for tax hikes.
The voters' clear intent in consistently approving the 2/3's legislative vote requirement for tax increases has been to make it tougher to raise taxes -- to ensure that increasing the tax burden is harder than reforming government.
Ever since Gregoire became Governor, she and the Democrats have repeatedly adopted budgets that were fiscally unsustainable -- where spending was always radically higher than there were taxes to pay for them. Now that the bills are coming due, rather than taking personal responsibility for their fiscal recklessness, Gregoire and the Democrats are trying to stick the taxpayers with these huge costs.
Despicable.
The greatest threat ... to struggling taxpayers, our fragile economy, and job-producing, tax-generating businesses that can follow Boeing right out of Washington ... is the Democrats' tax-hiking agenda. The 2/3's legislative vote requirement for tax increases is the only thing standing in their way so that's why they want to get rid of it.
We are committed to fighting to protect the voters' decision to back Initiative 960. Our 2010 initiative -- "Save The 2/3's Vote For Tax Increases" -- puts a very bright spotlight on the Democrats' tax-hiking agenda and their scheme to jettison the 2/3's requirement. With enough pressure from the public and the press, we are hopeful that their legislative assault on the 2/3's requirement can be thwarted. But if Gregoire and the Democrats dismiss the people, then we will work very hard to give the voters in November 2010 the opportunity to reinstate the 2/3's requirement at the ballot box.
Raising taxes will only kick the taxpayers when they're down and extend the recession. Gregoire and the Democrats made this mess -- they need to clean it up themselves with existing revenue and not make it worse by raising taxes.
Posted by Tim Eyman at January 06, 2010 04:27 PM | Email ThisOlympia 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 Constitution says they can repeal an initiative by 2/3 vote anytime, or by majority vote after 2 years. If you don't like that, quit whining and change the Constitution.
It is true that the people have voted for some of your anti-tax initiatives, and they may well vote for another. (It's tempting to vote for any initiative that says you'll save money without saying what you'll lose, as you've brilliantly figured out.) But legislators are under no legal or moral obligation to follow the polls or historical election returns, and you have no right to call them names for doing what they believe is right.
Posted by: Bruce on January 6, 2010 11:48 PMIt's this kind of blase' blue state ignorance that has us nearly 3 billion in the Red. It's a "don't bore me with the details, here's my wallet. Take what you want" attitude that has to change if this state is going to grow up. Following California down the path to dysfunctionality and financial ruin is not what I would consider a very "progressive" mindset.
Posted by: Rick D. on January 7, 2010 06:50 AMI agree it's good to give Tim money.
The democrats hire an army of consultants, ad agencies, PR spokespeople, etc. with our tax dollars in order to advance their tax and spend agendas.
We taxpayers should have a representation to voice our concerns back and it certainly makes sense that we need to provide a salary for the person.
(Isn't it interesting how this one person has so much more impact than the army of government paid workers doing similar jobs? I guess it's typical that workers in the private sector are 100x more productive than government employees.)
Posted by: johnny on January 7, 2010 08:22 AMWhat they are DOING is despicable. That's not name-calling, that is describing their actions.
I would add that their actions are arrogant and unrepresentative and they should abide by the decision of the voters unless there's a darn good reason to do otherwise.
So far, they've not given a good reason why getting rid of I-960 is necessary. As others have pointed out, if there's such a pressing need to raise taxes, then getting 2/3's shouldn't be a problem. And allowing I-960 to tell the public which revenue-raising bills are being introduced, how much they'll cost, which legislators are sponsoring them and their contact info, and when there are hearings on them, and which legislators are approving them, those are all 'sunshine provisions' that facilitate an informed electorate.
there's no good reason to suspend those requirements except to keep the people in the dark about their tax-hiking, fee-raising agenda.
Posted by: Tim Eyman on January 7, 2010 09:10 AMSo is it always "arrogant and unrepresentative" to vote contrary to polls, or to what voters said in an election 2 years earlier? And would it be similarly "arrogant and unrepresentative" for the Governor to ever veto a bill that the legislature passed? It sounds like you don't like our constitution when it conflicts with the tax-cut agenda of your wealthy patrons.
"they've not given a good reason why getting rid of I-960 is necessary"
Sure it's not literally necessary, but legislators are hired to do what's best, not what's necessary. It's arguably wise to respond to a huge deficit with a combination of tax increases and service cuts.
"if there's such a pressing need to raise taxes, then getting 2/3's shouldn't be a problem"
What's so magical about 2/3? Why not require 100%? The point is, the state constitution says a majority is sufficient.
As for the sunshine provisions, those sound good in principle, though I've seen excessive red tape requirements in some of your other initiatives. Anyway, I doubt this is your main concern with I-960.
Posted by: Bruce on January 7, 2010 11:46 AMIf there's such a pressing need to pass your initiatives, then getting 2/3 of the people to vote for them shouldn't be a problem.
Posted by: Bruce on January 7, 2010 11:51 AMVoters said 2/3's of politicians or majority of voters to raise taxes - that's eminently reasonable.
What's magical about 2/3's? it's what the voters have voted for 3 times. They didn't say 100%, they said 2/3's -- and they said it 3 times.
They work for us, not the other way around.
http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com
Posted by: Tim Eyman on January 7, 2010 02:09 PMSnort. Actually he does have the specific right to do just that. As we all do.
Unfortunately for you, Bruce, the First Amendment actually applies to people saying things you may not like. Deal with it.
Posted by: jimg on January 7, 2010 03:59 PMWow. You really don't get it do you? By your lights when the state says they don't have enough money they are telling us the truth. OK smarty pants. How much money should every citizen give them? 10% of their income? 75%? 30%? One dollar sales tax? Give us a figure that you think that state can work with and not need any more from us. Obviously you are an clairvoyant accountant or something. Let's hear it.
AND
". . . and you have no right to call them names for doing what they believe is right."
Dumb statement. Yes he does. In spades. Our Constitution guarantees it. In fact he can call them all the names he likes, whenever he likes. But if you disagree with that assessment, why not show us the text or document that says he has no right to call names. Please, take your time.
The 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
I have always wondered what it is about a grandmother from Alaska that absolutely scares the crap out of liberals to the point that they hate her so much. It would be really simple to just ignore her - but they feel the need to demean and trash her every step of the way.
(I mean, I'll be the first to admit that she certainly made a few gaffes during her time in the public eye, but when your team put "Joe" in the VP seat, you'd think you'd learn a litttle humility.)
Go back to horsey Dufus. The adults are talking here.
Posted by: johnny on January 8, 2010 07:27 AMThe "Tea baggers" will find that out soon enough, when they manage to destroy the GOP internally, and then find out that most Americans don't share their nutty, individualistic values. "Tea baggers" and anti-tax fanatics are unelectable.
Posted by: Proteus on January 8, 2010 09:28 AM"...stupidity of the initiative process." What!? Yeah, that control over your government is really a bitch. What a classic.
Did it ever occur to you that the same people who are voting for "...these elected officials" are also voting for the initiatives. Is this really that Bruce guy who thinks that we should give the government any amount it wants just because it says so?
The Tea Party folks have really lit up the moderates in this country. The GOP has got nothing to do with it but there is a new Rasmussen showing 54% of the population now recognizes "conservative" versus 44% "liberal". But since you mentioned the GOP, let's peek. Things are looking pretty good there these days too. A younger crowd of tax cutters that have wide appeal. [here] Trust me, the Demorats are screwed come November in more ways than one.
Ya know Proteus, you need to stop reading the P.I. and Seattle Times. Do a good paper and get some reality.
Posted by: G Jiggy on January 8, 2010 11:21 AMThe cost to go and see Sarah and Joseph Farah 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.
www.nationalteapartyconvention.com
As to control of the government, we have it. After all, we ELECT the legislature..and the governer. We..the people. Unfortunately it just so happens that in the bubble that you people live in, the concept that a majority of people don't happen to agree with you doesn't seem to register.
Believe me, if I thought, for one second that the GOP agenda made any sense, or had more competent candidates, I'd vote for them. I crossed over and voted for Rossi in 2008 for this exact reason. Poltics and views are important, but more important in an executive position are competence and organization skills.
So..I'd love to see some fiscal competence from the GOP..so far, its been sorely lacking. The GOP, and Bush left us $10 TRILLION in debt, and a massive economic meltdown to clean up. Its going to take a long time to fix up..especially with the GOP fighting Obama at every turn.
At the state level, unfortunately the Dems have been very ,very disappointing. No fix for our substandard school curriculum, and below average school funding. No fix for our regressive tax system. No fix for our crumbling infrastructure, or lack of proper transit.
The GOP needs to stop being the "party of no" and recognize that this state needs to enter the 21st century, while getting to the real root of the problems. Blame is equal to go around...there are some very strong traditional Dem groups (unions) that are to blame for the problems above (massively high infrastructure costs) and crappy school curriculum.
Posted by: Proteus on January 12, 2010 03:30 PM