A Pissed-Off Electorate Strikes Back
Lots of rumblings about the WA Legislatures "emergency" suspension of I-601 to get a simple majority vote for the new gas tax.
Here's a grass-roots drive for a new initiative: http://www.nonewgastax.com/
The Washington Farm Bureau (and others) challenge the "emergency" suspension of 601: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002262111_farmbureau04m.html
And Tim Eyman has a fire-breathing editorial in the Seattle Times today regarding "legislative arrogance" ... and, ya know...he's 100% right this time: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002261748_timeyman04.html
1 comment:
No doubts that Eyman's opinion piece smacks of soundbites and mantric phraseology. Eyman is certainly one of those folks who you have to look into everything they say and write very carefully.
However, in this particular case he has a point. Washington State has a very bad record in properly managing public funds and this new tax seemingly flies in the face of public opinion on transportation taxes.
Perhaps the tax really is a good idea and Gregoire and the Legislature did a shitty job justifying it and it's all a public affairs problem.
One of the bottom lines is that Washington ranks way up there in terms of gasoline taxes and transportation levies of all types and doesn't have a lot to show for it, thereby creating a sense of mistrust in the governments use of revenues.
Take, for example, the Sounder commuter train linking Tacoma, Seattle, and Everett. Did you know that operating expenses equal over $100 per passenger per ride?
Sure, there are unfunded mandates and programs falling into disrepair. That's always going to be the case. However, there's also a lot of waste, overregulation, and bungling going on as well and I don't think it's wise to just throw money at issues without an audit of the entuire system which no one seems willing to do.
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