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Initiative 1053: making it tougher to raise taxes

by Mike Cate

KING5.com

Posted on September 4, 2010 at 7:29 AM

Updated Saturday, Sep 4 at 7:35 AM

Initiative 1053 should give voters a sense of deja vu. It would require a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes and a majority vote to raise fees. In 2007 voters passed Initiative 960 which had the same requirements, but this past legislative session, lawmakers overrode those requirements and passed new taxes and tax hikes. Initiative 1053 sponsor Tim Eyman says voters have to put restraints on government growth because lawmakers t control themselves. Opponents of the 1053 argue that this initative ties lawmakers hands at a time when a bad economy has reduced the growth in government revenues but not in the demand for government services.

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 3 of 3

stevezemke said on September 8, 2010 at 2:09 PM

In the last budget cycle the State legislature cut $4.4 billion in state services. 44,000 people lost basic healthcare coverage. Many wind up going to emergency rooms, increasing costs to all of us.2,600 education jobs were cut, resulting in larger class sizes and poorer education. College tuition has increased 30%. And next year we face an additional $3 billion in cuts. Big oil like BP and big banks and other corporations opposed to paying their fair share to support the state put in over half the money to putI-1053 on the ballot. They are only concerned about their profits, not the burden put on middle income families by their special interest tax exemptions. Support our state constitution and vote no on 1053. Support the interests of struggling working families, not big corporations.

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oldlewy said on September 6, 2010 at 6:39 AM

government for the people by the people? This is a great idea stop new taxes. Everyone who works for the state should take a pay cut of 10% The whole bunch are paid too much!

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stevezemke said on September 4, 2010 at 11:39 AM

I-1053 is unconstitutional. Article II, Section 22 of the Washington State Constitution says Legislators shall pass bills by a majority vote. Eyman is trying to change what is in the state constitution and you can not do that by initiative. That requires a constitutional amendment. Majority votes were put in for a reason. If you require as I-1053 does, a 2/3 vote of both Houses to pass a bill, the reality is that the outcome of the vote can be determined by 17 members in the Senate opposing a bill. This is minority rule. The previous Eyman measure, I-960, requiring a 2/3 vote was barely passed by the voters 51% to 49%. It couldn't muster anywhere near 2/3. Voters should uphold the Washington State Constitution and vote no on I-1053's concept of a minority of Legislators controlling bills passing.

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