Gregoire and the Democrats suspended Initiative 960 because it was working exactly as voters intended - it had stopped tax increases during its two-year tenure -- and it did much more.
Passed by voters in 2007, I-960 protected us from BILLIONS in higher taxes in 2008 and 2009. Gregoire's repeated broken promises on raising taxes proved that voters were wise in approving I-960's protections -- without I-960, they would have radically raised taxes in 2008 and 2009. I-960 stopped their tax-hiking agenda dead in its tracks.
Even I-960's suspension helped save us from higher taxes -- there's no doubt that the hard road to suspend it has made this year's tax hiking package smaller than it otherwise would have been if not for the hard votes necessary to suspend I-960. Gregoire and the Democrats had to use a lot of political capital to get rid of I-960, making it harder to get the votes for the actual tax increases.
And finally, I-960's suspension has put a lot of "bad" legislators in danger of being voted out of office this fall. Gregoire and the Democrats' disrespect for I-960 has provided voters with a huge rallying cry to 'clean house' in November.
So I-960 has done a lot of good. But getting it back is really critical, given the huge projected deficits in 2011 and 2012 -- without the resurrection of the 2/3's vote requirement, we'll all be taxed into oblivion next year.
This year's "Save The 2/3's Vote For Tax Increases Initiative" I-1053 will provide these same benefits. I-1053 will stop tax hikes in 2011 and 2012 (and likely beyond). It will help the voters identify pro-taxpayer and anti-taxpayer politicians at election time. And it will protect struggling taxpayers and our fragile economy.
And won't it be satisfying to force Gregoire to abide by Initiative 1053 in her final two years in office?
We need your help to make sure that I-1053 gets on the ballot.
Go to our website to get petitions or donate to the effort.
Posted by Tim Eyman at March 22, 2010 10:41 AM | Email Thishmmm. Isn't Missouri the "Show Me (How)" State?
2/3 vote OF THE PEOPLE, not the legislature.
I like it!
They've proven themselves pretty worthless, so I suggest we just do it ourselves anyway.
Posted by: James on March 22, 2010 11:33 AMUnlike other states, the people of WA cannot propose changes to the state Constitution - such proposals must originate by the Legislature. The people, by initiative, may pass laws, but since they are laws, and Olympia is filled with LAWMAKERS, they can change those citizen-passed laws (after 2 years). That's why I-960 stopped tax increases in 2008 and 2009.
So we are fighting back the only way we can -- and that is to bring back I-960's policies with this year's Initiative 1053 (taxes can be raised with either 2/3's vote in the house and senate, or simple majority vote of the people).
www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com
Posted by: Tim Eyman on March 22, 2010 11:42 AMresponse: no, I-1053 simply resurrects I-960's policies, it doesn't include the resurrection of other initiatives. why? because the sponsors of those other initiatives have decided not to put them back on the ballot.
Voters have 3 times approved these taxpayer protection policies and I-1053 gives voters their 4th opportunity.
http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com
Posted by: Tim Eyman on March 22, 2010 03:49 PMI know you read this ... since you responded after its posting....so please, say YES and help fight the good fight for all initiatives that passed yet were struck down by the legislature!
Posted by: Just Wondering on March 22, 2010 06:56 PMThey just siphon away energy from what matters most, which is electing Republicans! If conservatives would spend half as much time on legislative campaigns as they do on gathering signatures, Republicans would control Olympia.
Let the leftists waste their resources on such things.
Posted by: Tim B. on March 22, 2010 08:22 PMThe Tax Initiatives definitely slow them down...but the outcome only does that.
Right to Work hits at the heart of the unsustainable Budget.
Not even the sponsors of the other initiatives are pushing to have the voters revote on them. so if they're not that interested, why should anything else be?
besides, we're focused on reinstating the only initiative that's been approved by voters 3 times -- the 2/3's vote for tax increases policy with I-1053.
it really shouldn't take 4 votes of the people for them to listen to us.
Posted by: Tim Eyman on March 22, 2010 09:21 PMresponse: No, we have to get 300,000 signatures by July 2nd to get I-1053 on the ballot. Gregoire and the Democrats already received much bigger bribes from the special interest groups to suspend I-960. I-1053 is our only way to protect ourselves from higher taxes, given the massive deficits projected in 2011 and 2012.
Posted by: Tim Eyman on March 22, 2010 09:30 PMresponse: They're not mutually exclusive -- Initiative 960 protects us from higher taxes and it is helping elect more Republicans (as the essay explains). It's not one or the other - it's both. Activism is not a zero sum game - I-960 has helped identify the 'bad' legislators who disrespected the people by suspending I-960. Both work hand-in-hand to move our state in a more pro-freedom direction.
Posted by: Tim Eyman on March 22, 2010 09:34 PMElecting republicans would be easier if they actually worked in concert with Tim instead of trying to keep him at arms length.
I'm not sure what it is about the Washington state GOP that makes them too afraid to take a stand against taxes and big government or for property rights. I've lived in several states - including Illinois and California - and have never seen a state GOP that ws so unwilling to take a stand on issues they supposedly believe in.
The simply truth is that Tim Eyeman is effective in countering democratic abuses in Washington while our state GOP sits on its hands and does "really effective" things like refusing to take a per diem during congressional extended ssessions. He deserves our support.
Posted by: johnny on March 23, 2010 06:49 AM