Comments on: The true cost of Wash. initiative I-1033 http://whitmanpioneer.com/opinion/columnists/2009/09/24/the-true-cost-of-wash-initiative-i-1033/ The Pioneer | Whitman news, delivered. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:33:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Steve Zemke MajorityRulesBlog http://whitmanpioneer.com/opinion/columnists/2009/09/24/the-true-cost-of-wash-initiative-i-1033/comment-page-1/#comment-4953 Steve Zemke MajorityRulesBlog Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:58:53 +0000 http://whitmanpioneer.com/?p=6731#comment-4953 Good post with some serious discussion of the issues involved. Here's my take on 3 critical problems I see with Initiative 1033. But don't take my word for it in the end. Read the initiative and try to understand how it works and how it would change the representative system of government we have now and replace it with budgetting by referendum. INITIATIVE 1033 FREEZES STATE AND LOCAL SPENDING AT THE CURRENT LEVEL. It says that none of the cuts made in public services as a result of the current recession can be restored without a public vote. Over S1.5 billion just in education was cut from the state budget this year. Public votes to restore cuts like these take time, cost money and allow politics and special interest money to influence the outcome. INITIATIVE 1033 IS A RADICAL SHIFT AWAY FROM REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. It would take away the current power of our elected public representatives to make budget decisions and turns the process over to budgeting by referendum. It does this not just at the state level but also for all 39 Washington counties and all 281 cities in our state. It is a blatant attempt to undercut efficient and deliberative government by Tim Eyman whose goal is to shrink the powers of representative government. INITIATIVE 1033 IS A COMPLEX WEALTH TRANSFER SCHEME. It would transfer sales tax dollars collected from everyone and use them to only pay property taxes for property owners. The problem is that not everyone owns property. This scheme increases the unfairness of our tax system. Renters will pay the same taxes as before under I-1033 but will both get no tax rebate and see no increased public services for their tax dollars. I-1033 is special interest legislation designed to hamstring government from operating efficiently. It is a complex wealth transfer scheme that benefits rich property owners. And it is not needed. There is no fiscal crisis demanding radical change of this nature. It is a dream scheme by anti-government anti-tax fanatic Tim Eyman and deserves a resounding NO vote this November. We don't need to make our current recession permanent. Good post with some serious discussion of the issues involved. Here’s my take on 3 critical problems I see with Initiative 1033. But don’t take my word for it in the end. Read the initiative and try to understand how it works and how it would change the representative system of government we have now and replace it with budgetting by referendum.

INITIATIVE 1033 FREEZES STATE AND LOCAL SPENDING AT THE CURRENT LEVEL. It says that none of the cuts made in public services as a result of the current recession can be restored without a public vote. Over S1.5 billion just in education was cut from the state budget this year. Public votes to restore cuts like these take time, cost money and allow politics and special interest money to influence the outcome.

INITIATIVE 1033 IS A RADICAL SHIFT AWAY FROM REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. It would take away the current power of our elected public representatives to make budget decisions and turns the process over to budgeting by referendum. It does this not just at the state level but also for all 39 Washington counties and all 281 cities in our state. It is a blatant attempt to undercut efficient and deliberative government by Tim Eyman whose goal is to shrink the powers of representative government.

INITIATIVE 1033 IS A COMPLEX WEALTH TRANSFER SCHEME. It would transfer sales tax dollars collected from everyone and use them to only pay property taxes for property owners. The problem is that not everyone owns property. This scheme increases the unfairness of our tax system. Renters will pay the same taxes as before under I-1033 but will both get no tax rebate and see no increased public services for their tax dollars.

I-1033 is special interest legislation designed to hamstring government from operating efficiently. It is a complex wealth transfer scheme that benefits rich property owners. And it is not needed. There is no fiscal crisis demanding radical change of this nature. It is a dream scheme by anti-government anti-tax fanatic Tim Eyman and deserves a resounding NO vote this November. We don’t need to make our current recession permanent.

]]> By: Gabriela Salvidea http://whitmanpioneer.com/opinion/columnists/2009/09/24/the-true-cost-of-wash-initiative-i-1033/comment-page-1/#comment-4911 Gabriela Salvidea Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:09:45 +0000 http://whitmanpioneer.com/?p=6731#comment-4911 Looks good Russ. You wrote yourself a note at the bottom about adding a couple things—do that asap or this version is what will be printed. Thanks! Looks good Russ. You wrote yourself a note at the bottom about adding a couple things—do that asap or this version is what will be printed. Thanks!

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