Monday, January 11, 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, Senator Pam Roach, Rep. Matt Shea, John Ahern & Ken Morse, http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com

RE: Here's what the 14 co-sponsors of our 2010 initiative have to say

At 10 am this morning in our state's Capitol in Olympia, the 14 of us formally filed with the Secretary of State our 2010 initiative -- Save The 2/3's Vote For Tax Increases (an initiative number will not be assigned for a while and petitions will not be 'on the streets' until February ... we'll have 5 months to collect 300,000 voter signatures before the early July deadline).

Our initiative is about respecting the voters' ballot box decisions -- they've approved the 2/3's legislative approval requirement for tax increases 3 times -- and making it tougher to raise taxes, ensuring they're an absolute last resort.

Our initiative is the people's most effective lobbying tool against higher taxes.

Raising taxes now, in the middle of a recession, will only make things worse -- worse for struggling families, worse for our fragile economy, and worse for the state budget. We will work very hard to give the voters the opportunity to save this critical taxpayer protection.

Here's a news story about this morning's filing.

Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Tim Eyman "We will fight to preserve the voters' decision on I-960."

Michael Dunmire, retired investor, Woodinville "Lots of people worked really hard to resurrect the two-thirds vote requirement for tax increases with Initiative 960 in 2007 and it's maddening that the Governor is setting us up to get rid of it. I'm proud to co-sponsor this initiative and will do what I can to make it a reality."

Don Benton, state senator and small business owner from Vancouver "I am very proud to have played a role in the drafting of I-960, specifically its 'sunshine provisions' requiring an email alert system and 10 year cost analysis of revenue-raising bills. It is galling for there to be talk of a suspension of the two-thirds vote requirement of I-960 so soon after the people made their decision. Being an official co-sponsor of this initiative is a great honor and I'll do everything I can to help."

Janea Holmquist, state senator from Moses Lake "As the senator recognized by the President of the Senate for referencing and utilizing I-960's protections the most, I am proud to sponsor this important taxpayer protection initiative. My work to protect you, your wallet, and your rights never ends."

Erma Turner, owner of Erma's Clip & Curl, Cle Elum "Folks in Cle Elum and throughout Washington simply can't afford higher taxes right now and so I'm proud to co-sponsor this initiative to protect them from Olympia. I worked really hard to get I-960 passed just two years ago because I never trusted Gregoire to keep her no-new-taxes promise - turns out I was right not to believe her. If they take away our 2/3's, we'll bring it right back."

Dagny Lord, registered nurse from Sequim "I'm pleased and honored to be a co-sponsor of this year's initiative to keep the two-thirds vote requirement -- I wish that Olympia simply abided by I-960 making this initiative unnecessary ... but I'm not so naïve to believe that's what they'll do. Instead, they'll try to shirk responsibility by raising taxes rather than reform government - that's why this initiative is necessary."

Nancy Nelson, retired nurse from Sedro-Woolley "I am furious to hear politicians saying they're going to ignore the will of the people by suspending I-960 which was all about fiscal responsibility -- we just voted for it and we need it now more than ever!! As a co-sponsor, I want the elected officials to realize that they can't ask us to bail them out for their lack of fiscal responsbility. But if they insist on ignoring us, I'm going to work super hard to give the voters the chance to force fiscal responsibility on them."

Keli Carender, Math teacher from Seattle and leader in the Tea Party movement "Everyone understands that the government needs a certain amount of revenue to conduct its business. The problem is that legislators seem to want to raise taxes all the time, many times for items we don't need or want, or to kickback some extra money to a special interest. This initiative ensures that if legislators or the governor want to raise taxes, their reasoning must be good enough to convince two-thirds of their colleagues. They would simply have to justify their desire for a tax increase. I am excited to co-sponsor an initiative that forces the state government to collect and spend our tax dollars wisely, in a fiscally responsible manner."

Pam Roach, state senator from Auburn "Reviving our economy and creating jobs should be the main focus of the legislature, not breaking the mandate of the people and rushing to raise taxes."

Matt Shea, state house member from Spokane "For there to be serious consideration of suspending I-960 shows how out of touch some legislators are in Olympia. The people have repeatedly voted to limit the power of government to raise taxes. As a proud co-sponsor of this initiative effort, I will do everything I can to see the will of the people remain in place."

John Ahern from Spokane "When I was in the Legislature (where I hope the voters will return me next year), I was always frustrated by the majority Democrats always making tax increases a first resort, not a last resort. That's not what the voters want. I'm honored to co-sponsor this initiative to reinstate the will of the people."

Ken Morse, small business owner from Olympia and leader in the Tea Party movement "We cannot expect a return to prosperity without reigning in rampant unsustainable spending at both State and National levels. The tea party movement is all about fiscal responsibility and Constitutional safeguards. This initiative is definitely a tea party issue on both counts and I am proud to sponsor it."

www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com