Gov. Chris Gregoire spoke at this morning’s Washington Conservation Voters packed annual fundraiser breakfast at the Westin in downtown Seattle (also on the bill, NBC’s Chuck Todd, who said 2010 will not be 1994).
Gregoire stole the show with an unprecdented (for her), heartfelt attack on I-1033 and Tim Eyman (“the sponsor” she called him). Eyman’s 1033 would freeze state spending at current levels, tacked to inflation.
Two-termer Gregoire told the crowd she appreciated that WCV voted for her in 2008, but she was here to “ask for your vote again.” And then she preceded to attack 1033, urging the crowd to vote ‘No,’ saying the measure would result in a $5 billion deficit.
She brought up scary images of not being able to immunize children. She alluded to California’s infamous budget crisis, referenced that state’s history of tax slashing initiatives, and said that state had been “initiated to death,” and she didn’t want that to happen to Washington.
Footnote: Also on this morning’s agenda, state Rep. John McCoy (D-38, Everett, Marysville) won WCV’s “Legislator of the Year.”
Rep. McCoy stalled an effort by state senate Democrats earlier this year to water down voter-approved I-937, the renewable energy initiative.
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She said “freez”?
I always find it funny when Democrats, our Governor included, inveigh against Tim Eyeman hasn’t really gotten any of his initiatives passed.
The two that were enacted were enacted by the legislature, run by democrats AFTER courts had thrown them out. (Here is what she said about 747 “Gov. Christine Gregoire called on local governments and taxing districts “to assure me that they will not increase property tax levies for their upcoming budgets as a result of the court decision. In addition, I will be asking the Legislature, in January, to work with me to thoughtfully reinstate a property tax cap.
In a statement, Gregoire said Tuesday’s vote on a handful of tax-related measures shows voters are concerned about their tax burden.”
“I believe that it is our responsibility to move quickly, recognizing taxpayers’ concerns and reinstating the will of the voters,” she said.
If you don’t like ‘em don’t vote for ‘em. But if the court throws them out, don’t enact them.
Chuck Todd’s other gems:
1) “Watch General Motors –as GM goes, so too does sentiment on government intervention and Obama.” 2)”Watch the number of Democratic Members [of Congress] who announce their retirements (currently zero).
3)”The most important number is the unemployment rate.”
4) Around July 11th was the turning point for Obama – by focusing on health care it gave the GOP a chance to get traction. Don’t expect a concerted effort on environmental legislation – it will be piecemeal.
5) Saturday Night Live got it right last week with the Obama report card.
Great wrap-up which falls in-line with Publicola’s extensive coverage of 1033 … oh wait … is this like the second time or something you wrote about Eyman’s latest initiative?
Kudos to McCoy! He’s also been leading the legislative fight to make the “pathways out of poverty” vision for green jobs a reality.
I-1033 proposes far reaching changes to state and local tax policy and governance. Here are three reasons why to vote NO on Initiative 1033.
1. It would freeze state and local spending of tax dollars at the current recession level. The only way to restore this year’s cuts due to the recession or increase any other services would be by public votes. Elections for budgets cost money, delay action and open the process up to campaign spending and politics by sound bites.
2. It would abolish the current power of our state and local elected officials to vote to fund any new or expanded services over the baseline level set by the initiative by taking away this power and requiring budgeting by referendum. It would change representative government as we have known it since statehood for the state and all 39 counties and 281 cities.
3. Initiative 1033 is a complex wealth transfer scheme that takes sales taxes and other fees collected from everyone and only uses them to pay property taxes for property owners. Last year some 57% of state revenue came from sales taxes.
The problem with I-1033 is that not everyone owns property. Some 35% of households in the state are not owner occupied according to the US Census Bureau. Renters, whether they be fixed income seniors or working families, lose twice under I-1033; they will get no tax rebate and will also see no restored or new services for the tax dollars they paid.
Also one third of the tax transfer goes to commercial real estate. Under I-1033 sales tax dollars collected from people that don’t own property would be used to help wealthy property owners like malls and corporations and real estate developers pay their property taxes. This is wrong. It would put even more of the tax burden on lower incomes folks.
Eyman’s Initiative 1033 says paying property taxes for wealthy property owners is more important than educating our kids, fixing roads, health care for seniors and children, keeping parks and libraries open, police and fire protection and any other public services now provided.
I-1033 is a terrible idea and is not needed. Vote No on I-1033!
Voting No on I-1033 yourself is important, but thousands of other voters need to get that same message! Sign up to contribute a couple hours of your time to call voters and help defeat this thing! Sign up here: http://www.no1033.org/index.php?page=display&id=113
The state budget is facing an additional billion dollar projected shortfall next year. Also Federal dollars were used to help bridge the gap this year. Those will be gone in the future.
Initiative 1033 will prevent us from bringing back services lost this year and will lock us into a permanent recession.
We rank 25th in terms of property tax per capita compared to other states according to the conservative Tax Foundation. Our overall state and local tax burden is in the bottom 1/3 of states at 35th. Know what you get when you get to 50th lowest? You beat Mississippi.
Chuck Todd's other gems:
1) “Watch General Motors –as GM goes, so too does sentiment on government intervention and Obama.” 2)”Watch the number of Democratic Members [of Congress] who announce their retirements (currently zero).
3)”The most important number is the unemployment rate.”
4) Around July 11th was the turning point for Obama – by focusing on health care it gave the GOP a chance to get traction. Don't expect a concerted effort on environmental legislation – it will be piecemeal.
5) Saturday Night Live got it right last week with the Obama report card.