Posted Wed, Sep 23, 5:31 p.m.

in response to previous post by Brouhaha: Activist: one who actively engages in public dialogue. we are actively in favor of I-1033. http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com

Posted Wed, Sep 23, 3:09 p.m.

Here's today's update to our supporters and the media: RE: Groups don't vote, people do Just finished an UPFRONT KING 5 debate on I-1033 that will air on Saturday and Sunday. I-1033's opponent touted the 'impressive' list of groups opposing I-1033. Look at all our groups, he said. Groups don't ...

Posted Wed, Sep 23, 7:47 a.m.

Opponents want higher taxes and a state income tax. Opponents are against any limit on how fast government grows and against any limit on the power of government to take as much as they want from the taxpayers. Opponents actually think Washington's citizens are UNDERTAXED?!!? I-1033 allows government to grow ...

Posted Tue, Sep 22, 8:20 p.m.

Opponents have millions of Washington DC dirty dollars to spread their threats, lies and scare tactics about I-1033. TV ads, radio ads, newspaper ads, consultants, polling, focus groups -- they've got the best 'con' campaign money can buy, most of it coming from Washington DC's most powerful labor unions. We ...

Posted Tue, Sep 22, 12:54 p.m.

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. The Washington Research Council created a very straightforward graph, using the state's own numbers, illustrating I-1033's policies. Here it is: http://www.permanent-offense.org/pdf/Brief.pdf This graph makes several things abundantly clear: 1) This graph shows that I-1033 will substantially REDUCE our state's crushing property tax burden. ...

Posted Tue, Sep 22, 12:16 p.m.

From: Tim Eyman, I-1033 co-sponsor This is the latest update on I-1033 and was emailed to our supporters and the media an hour ago (11:10 am on Tuesday) RE: I-1033 renews Washington's I-601 - I-1033 is very different than other state's limits - here's why Passed by voters in 1993 ...

Posted Tue, Aug 25, 3:08 p.m.

Here’s what we’re debating with 1033: how fast should the government grow and who should decide? 1033 takes the position that the public sector should grow at the same rate as the private sector -- unless voters OK a bigger increase -- and it should be the citizens, and not ...

Posted Tue, Aug 25, 3:07 p.m.

Here’s what we’re debating with 1033: how fast should the government grow and who should decide? 1033 takes the position that the public sector should grow at the same rate as the private sector -- unless voters OK a bigger increase -- and it should be the citizens, and not ...

Posted Sun, Aug 16, 8:03 p.m.

Here's an excellent "one page" description of I-1033's policies and principles: http://kpbj.com/headlines/2009-08-04_i_1033_lets_citizens_control_how_fast_government_grows

Posted Sun, Aug 16, 8:02 p.m.

Here's an excellent 'one page' description of I-1033 and its policies and principles: http://kpbj.com/headlines/2009-08-04_i_1033_lets_citizens_control_how_fast_government_grows

Posted Mon, Aug 10, 6:53 a.m.

Interesting article - provides an interesting perspective: What Nobody Tells You About Washington's Permanent Tax Revolt How Come the Sky Doesn’t Fall? http://www.yourhealthcaretoday.com/home/1167-what_nobody_tells_you_about_washington_s_permanent_tax_revolt.htm

Posted Sat, Aug 8, 12:30 p.m.

Interesting article - provides an interesting perspective: What Nobody Tells You About Washington's Permanent Tax Revolt How Come the Sky Doesn’t Fall? http://www.yourhealthcaretoday.com/home/1167-what_nobody_tells_you_about_washington_s_permanent_tax_revolt.htm

Posted Sat, Aug 8, 12:22 p.m.

Opponents don't deny that they think taxpayers are UNDERTAXED. Opponents don't deny that they want higher taxes and a state income tax. Colorado and California have income taxes - Washington doesn't. Opponents desperately want Washington to emulate other states that have income taxes. I-1033 brings back the successful fiscal discipline ...

Posted Tue, Aug 4, 7:31 a.m.

None of those groups have donated to I-1033 - you were lying. It's not the first lie you've told about I-1033 but it certainly is apparent. We received over 2146 individual donations to I-1033 -- none of those donations came from those groups. I-1033 brings back the successful fiscal discipline ...

Posted Mon, Aug 3, 8:35 p.m.

previous post wrote: "The initiative has been heavily funded by conservative groups" list them.

Posted Mon, Aug 3, 7:57 a.m.

Opponents don't deny that they think taxpayers are UNDERTAXED. Opponents don't deny that they want higher taxes and a state income tax. Colorado and California have income taxes - Washington doesn't. Opponents desperately want Washington to emulate other states that have income taxes. I-1033 brings back the successful fiscal discipline ...

Posted Sun, Aug 2, 10:35 p.m.

The backers of the NO on I-1033 campaign were the biggest pushers for the state income tax and higher taxes during the last few legislative sessions. Even Gregoire and the D's weren't that nuts. It just shows how out of the mainstream and extreme the opponents are when it comes ...

Posted Sun, Aug 2, 7:53 p.m.

Opponents don't deny that they think taxpayers are UNDERTAXED. Opponents don't deny that they want higher taxes and a state income tax. Colorado and California have income taxes - Washington doesn't. Opponents desperately want Washington to emulate other states that have income taxes. Opponents don't want lower taxes, but throw ...

Posted Sun, Aug 2, 7:50 p.m.

Opponents don't deny that they think taxpayers are UNDERTAXED. Opponents don't deny that they want higher taxes and a state income tax. Colorado and California have income taxes - Washington doesn't. Opponents desperately want Washington to emulate other states that have income taxes. I-1033 brings back the successful fiscal discipline ...

Posted Sun, Aug 2, 3:25 p.m.

Opponents want higher taxes and a state income tax -- they think taxpayers are UNDERTAXED. I-1033 brings back the successful fiscal discipline of I-601, policies that Gregoire and the Democrats got rid of in 2005, resulting in a $9 billion deficit. I-1033 reinstates a reasonable limit on government's growth and ...

Posted Sun, Aug 2, 3:24 p.m.

Opponents want higher taxes and a state income tax -- they think taxpayers are UNDERTAXED. I-1033 brings back the successful fiscal discipline of I-601, policies that Gregoire and the Democrats got rid of in 2005, resulting in a $9 billion deficit. I-1033 reinstates a reasonable limit on government's growth and ...

Posted Fri, Jul 31, 3:45 p.m.

33% increase over 4 years -- that's completely unsustainable. It's pig at the trough - if shows a total lack of fiscal discipline and self-restraint. If they can't sustain their growth over the long-run (or frankly, even for the short-run) then they need help. And I-1033 does that, not by ...

Posted Fri, Jul 31, 12:54 p.m.

As far as support for I-1033 is concerned, we've received 2063 individual donations totalling $664,769 so far. 2063 -- that's really extraordinary -- it's clear that I-1033 has a very broad base of grassroots support. Supporter Mike Dunmire is a real rock star among our supporters -- he's inspired many ...

Posted Fri, Jul 31, 12:52 p.m.

As written earlier, opponents have raised $52,500 so far ($25,000 from the Washington Education Association, $25,000 from the WA Service Employees Int'l Union SEIU, $2500 from the WA Council of County & City Employees). 3 groups, no individuals, that's it. It was these same groups (and the groups that will ...

Posted Wed, Jul 29, 11:03 p.m.

The 8th ranking looks at overall tax burden - and that overall tax burden will increase if opponents get their way and impose higher taxes and a state income tax. I-1033 puts some reasonable brake on the ever-increasing tax burden on Washington's citizens. It refunds excess tax revenues back to ...

Posted Wed, Jul 29, 8:54 p.m.

Both Forbes magazine and the Tax Foundation's Tax Freedom Day rank Washington as the 8th highest taxed state in the nation. Washington state's taxpayers deserve some relief, especially when it comes to our state's crushing property tax burden.

Posted Wed, Jul 29, 9:47 a.m.

From: Tim Eyman, I-1033 co-sponsor always credible when opponents of I-1033, opponents of I-601, and supporters of higher taxes and a state income tax make it sound like they would support some kind of limit on government's taxing power, just not the one at issue. gimmee a break. voters HAVE ...

Posted Tue, Jul 28, 10:35 p.m.

I-601 had a "inflation plus population growth" limit - Gregoire and the D's repealed it in 2005, resulting in a $9 billion deficit, I-1033 brings it back. and as written before, I-1033 brings back I-601's successful policies and extends those same principles to counties and cities.

Posted Tue, Jul 28, 6:18 p.m.

I-601 had a "inflation plus population growth" limit - Gregoire and the D's repealed it, I-1033 brings it back. and as written before, I-1033 brings back I-601's successful policies and extends those same principles to counties and cities.

Posted Tue, Jul 28, 3:50 p.m.

I-601 had a "inflation plus population growth limit - Gregoire and the D's repealed it, I-1033 brings it back. and as written before, I-1033 brings back I-601's successful policies and extends those same principles to counties and cities.

Posted Tue, Jul 28, 1:05 p.m.

This is totally untrue. The state, counties and cities can set aside as much money as they want for rainy day funds within I-1033's limits. If government decides that the automatic increase provided by I-1033 isn't a big enough increase, they can always go to the voters and ask for ...

Posted Tue, Jul 28, 1:01 p.m.

I wrote: I-1033 reenacts the reasonable fiscal policies of I-601 which worked for many years to provide state government with some discipline, removing the peaks and valleys of the fiscal roller coaster. I-1033 brings back I-601's successful policies and extends those same principles to counties and cities. That's nothing but ...

Posted Mon, Jul 27, 10:06 p.m.

previous post: Additionally it (I-1033) does not address state revenue response: of course it does. I-1033 reenacts the reasonable fiscal policies of I-601 which worked for many years to provide state government with some discipline, removing the peaks and valleys of the fiscal roller coaster. I-1033 brings back I-601's successful ...

Posted Mon, Jul 27, 11:20 a.m.

no alternative offered by opponents, only higher taxes and a state income tax. No alternative to property tax relief other than illegal schemes that can't work under Washington's Constitution and aren't even supported by majority Democrats.

Posted Mon, Jul 27, 10:43 a.m.

no alternative offered by opponents, only higher taxes and a state income tax. No alternative to property tax relief other than illegal schemes that can't work under Washington's Constitution and aren't even supported by majority Democrats.

Posted Mon, Jul 27, 8:54 a.m.

During the signature drive for I-695 in 1999, a legislator famously said "where's the populist outrage - no one has ever come before my legislative committee to testify against high car tabs" -- and a few weeks later hundreds of thousands of voters registered their populist outrage when we turned ...

Posted Mon, Jul 27, 8:30 a.m.

Yours is a defense of the status quo. Citizens deserve property tax relief and politicians need help to control the growth of government.

Posted Sun, Jul 26, 9:27 p.m.

Previous post: We can do better. response: But Olympia hasn't done anything for decades. Property taxes keep hurting more and more people and the state, counties, and cities continue to show zero fiscal self-restraint resulting in fiscal roller coasters that even the Governor has said is unacceptable. Yet nothing has ...

Posted Sun, Jul 26, 8:56 p.m.

315,444 citizens signed onto I-1033 and we are very excited about the widespread grassroots support its policies inspire. Opponents certainly speak for a segment of the voting public, but we're hopeful that once the voters hear both sides, they'll support I-1033's reenactment of I-601's fiscal discipline and endorse I-1033's property ...

Posted Sun, Jul 26, 6:39 p.m.

out of the 48,148 supporters who were mailed a I-1033 petition in February, an extraordinary 34,588 sent back a partially filled or fully filled petition, and 315,444 citizens signed a petition. Opponents, on the other hand, have raised $52,500 ($25,000 from the Washington Education Association, $25,000 from the WA Service ...

Posted Sun, Jul 26, 6:35 p.m.

Those bills were all illegal which likely contributed to them NOT BEING PASSED despite mega-majority Democrat control. The only way to address our state's property tax crisis is with I-1033. Taxpayers are being crushed by sky-high sales taxes, property taxes, utility taxes, and passed on higher prices because of expensive ...

Posted Sat, Jul 25, 9:54 p.m.

I-1033's formula of inflation plus population growth is from I-601 which was approved by Washington's voters in 1993 and in 2005, right after Gregoire became Governor, they eliminated I-601's limit. What happened? A massive $9 billion deficit. I-1033 just brings back the successful fiscal discipline that I-601 provided for many ...

Posted Sat, Jul 25, 9:57 a.m.

We're very proud of I-1033 and will continue to engage in debates over its merits, its policies, and its pro-taxpayer, pro-sustainability, pro-voter-control principles. Taxpayers, especially working families and fixed-income senior citizens, are really struggling and they need to be protected from higher taxes and a state income tax. And they're ...

Posted Fri, Jul 24, 4:32 p.m.

The Forbes ranking has Washington as the 8th highest taxed state in the nation. The Tax Foundation's Tax Freedom Day ranks Washington as the 8th highest taxed state in the nation. Our state's crushing property tax burden needs to be lessened. And yes, the growth of government needs to match ...

Posted Fri, Jul 24, 1:47 p.m.

From: Tim Eyman, I-1033 co-sponsor What I-1033 addresses is the marginal increase in the overall tax burden of Washington's citizens -- taxpayers pay federal taxes, state taxes, county taxes, city taxes and many other charges. The only way to accurately reflect the taxpayer's struggles is to analyze their overall tax ...

Posted Fri, Jul 24, 1:27 p.m.

And as was pointed out earlier, both Forbes magazine and the Tax Foundation's Tax Freedom Day rank Washington as the 8th highest taxed state in the nation. Taxpayers will benefit enormously from I-1033's policies which deter higher taxes.

Posted Fri, Jul 24, 1:26 p.m.

earlier post wrote: That does not dispute the issue that for many low and middle income people it is (property taxes are) a burden. But I-1033 doesn't help these homeowners like a Homestead Exemption or circuit breaker legislation would. response: those alternatives are illegal in Washington state. Our state Constitution's ...

Posted Fri, Jul 24, 8:27 a.m.

earlier post: This initiative is not a simply a state initiative it impacts all counties, cities and districts. response: if opponents actually took the time to READ the initiative, they'd know that I-1033 affects the state, counties, and cities AND NOT OTHER DISTRICTS. There are over 1700 local governments and ...

Posted Thu, Jul 23, 9:17 p.m.

Earlier post said I-1033 doesn't allow "the ability to build up a Rainy Day fund" response: Not true. I-1033's section 2, subsection 2 reads (note the 2nd sentence): For purposes of this section, "general fund revenue" means the aggregate of revenue from taxes, fees, and other governmental charges received by ...

Posted Thu, Jul 23, 2:17 p.m.

Washington is the 8th highest taxed state in the nation (8th by Forbes magazine and 8th by Tax Foundation's Freedom Day).

Posted Thu, Jul 23, 2:16 p.m.

As written earlier, opponents have raised $52,500 so far ($25,000 from the Washington Education Association, $25,000 from the WA Service Employees Int'l Union SEIU, $2500 from the WA Council of County & City Employees). 3 groups, no individuals, that's it. It was these same groups (and the groups that will ...

Posted Thu, Jul 23, 7:55 a.m.

earlier post: I-1033 is a "solution" looking for a problem. response: The fiscal roller coaster -- overextending themselves in good times, creating unsustainable budgets, and then slashing during bad times -- has been cited by Gregoire in each of her 'opening session' speeches. She's repeatedly called for "getting off the ...

Posted Thu, Jul 23, 12:06 a.m.

from: IRONHORSE (posted at the Kitsap Sun) We all know opponents don't want it to pass and they dislike Eyman and that's okay. This is America and we can disagree. But the question is, what would be your plan for ensuring responsible spending instead of the full speed adrift way ...

Posted Wed, Jul 22, 11:01 p.m.

not one thing about that previous post is true. oh well, when it comes to initiative opponents, the first casualty is always the truth. Opponents have raised $52,500 so far ($25,000 from the Washington Education Association, $25,000 from the WA Service Employees Int'l Union SEIU, $2500 from the WA Council ...

Posted Wed, Jul 22, 1:56 p.m.

Peaboy, it would take Seattle Democrat Ken Jacobsen getting Democrats to co-sponsor his bill to completely eliminate the citizens right to participate. Every year, he sponsors it with the rallying cry "let's take away the citizens' voice" -- thus far, he has yet to get any fellow Democrats to co-sponsor ...

Posted Wed, Jul 22, 12:35 p.m.

Washington is the 8th highest taxed state in the nation (8th by Forbes magazine and 8th by Tax Foundation's Freedom Day).

Posted Wed, Jul 22, 11:50 a.m.

Councilmember Godden obviously hasn't read I-1033 because it doesn't address "other taxing districts" - only the state, counties, and cities. She tries to get everyone to look at California, but we've had 16 years of positive experience with I-601, approved by voters in 1993 during tough economic times. In the ...

Posted Wed, Jul 22, 9:13 a.m.

Initiative 695 One Year Later: The Sky Didn’t Fall by Paul Guppy, Washington Policy Center, February 2000 During the political campaign against Initiative 695, opponents made a number of specific predictions, all of them dire, of what would befall the state if the measure became law. ... This Policy Brief ...

Posted Wed, Jul 22, 6:40 a.m.

From: Tim Eyman, I-1033 co-sponsor What's also beneficial to the taxpayers about I-1033 is that it builds on and reinforces previous tax initiatives that have been undermined by subsequent legislative action. It closes existing loopholes and deters future loopholes. This is especially needed in Washington state because the lifespan of ...

Posted Wed, Jul 22, 6:22 a.m.

From: Tim Eyman, I-1033 co-sponsor So many inaccuracies, so little time. I-1033 brings back successful policies and principles passed by the voters previously. In 1993, during tough economic times, voters approved I-601, which put reasonable limits on government’s fiscal policies. I-601 established a sustainable rate for government to grow, saying ...

Posted Mon, Jul 20, 10:58 p.m.

2 cents wrote: The initiative process is very flawed as we have seen this past year. A special session is called to codify I-747, yet I-728, I-732, I-937 and I-1029 were ignored. The only initiatives that seem to matter are anti-tax intiatives. response: your 'beef' isn't with the initiative process, ...

Posted Mon, Jul 20, 10:40 p.m.

PhilTG wrote: the only concrete complaint I've heard is that it doesn't allow the state to fund the Rainy Day fund response: Not true. I-1033's section 2, subsection 2 reads (note the 2nd sentence): For purposes of this section, "general fund revenue" means the aggregate of revenue from taxes, fees, ...

Posted Sun, Jul 19, 3:14 p.m.

from: IRONHORSE (posted at the Kitsap Sun) We all know opponents don't want it to pass and they dislike Eyman and that's okay. This is America and we can disagree. But the question is, what would be your plan for ensuring responsible spending instead of the full speed adrift way ...

Posted Fri, Jul 17, 11:04 a.m.

only our opponents want us to stop providing voters with additional choices at the ballot box. what's that tell ya? and it is not a personal attack to point out that the Budget and Policy Center is a wholly owned subsidiary of I-1033's opponents. not surprisingly, they were front and ...

Posted Fri, Jul 17, 10:20 a.m.

earlier post wrote: Any extra cash collected in the good times cannot be put in a rainy day fund. This is terrible, terrible public policy. response: Not true. I-1033's section 2, subsection 2 reads (note the 2nd sentence): For purposes of this section, "general fund revenue" means the aggregate of ...

Posted Fri, Jul 17, 9:34 a.m.

Washington State Budget & Policy Center is a wholly owned subsidiary of the donors to the "No" campaign. Opponents have raised $37,500 so far ($25,000 from the Washington Education Association, $10,000 from the WA State Service Employees Int'l Union, $2500 from the WA Council of County & City Employees). It ...

Posted Fri, Jul 17, 8:40 a.m.

Oh, and you don't need to write to your state reps, they do a legislative jihad against the initiative process every year. Seattle Democrat Ken Jacobsen introduces a bill every year to repeal the people's right to initiative, despite the fact that it's guaranteed by our state Constitution. No legislator ...

Posted Fri, Jul 17, 8:24 a.m.

As far as support for I-1033 is concerned, we've received 2063 individual donations totalling $664,769 so far. 2063 -- that's really extraordinary -- it's clear that I-1033 has a very broad base of grassroots support. Supporter Mike Dunmire is a real rock star among our supporters -- he's inspired many ...

Posted Fri, Jul 17, 6:52 a.m.

from: wutitz (this post appeared in the Seattle PI) If the state government had exercised minimal restraint in spending, this would not be necessary. But in the last 25 years state spending has looked like this: (in billions of dollars, biennial) 1985 $15.02 1991 $23.99 1995 $34.10 2001 $49.53 2005 ...

Posted Fri, Jul 17, 6:47 a.m.

From: genefmllr (this post appeared in the Seattle Times) We got a good example of how poorly our elected officials operate with putting together a budget in the last legislative session. The legislature and the Governor put together a budget with a 9.6 billion dollar defficiet built into it and ...

Posted Fri, Jul 17, 6:43 a.m.

The "professionals" put loopholes in voter-approved I-601 -- an initiative that was working and successfully smoothing out the highs and lows -- that resulted in a $3.2 billion deficit in 2003 and a $9 billion deficit in 2009. Yes, by all means, let the "professionals" continue doing what they're doing ...

Posted Thu, Jul 16, 9:49 p.m.

From: Tim Eyman, I-1033 co-sponsor Why are we doing I-1033? Because for 12 years, our supporters and fellow citizens have been asking us, in fact begging us to tackle our state's growing property tax crisis with an initiative. Every year, our property tax burden gets bigger and bigger and yet ...

Posted Thu, Jul 16, 9:32 p.m.

I-1033 simply reestablishes reasonable fiscal discipline policies and principles of I-601, approved by voters in 1993. Here's a recent column that explains it further: http://www.gateline.com/opinion/story/4625.html Here's an excerpt: I-1033 brings back successful policies and principles passed by the voters previously. In 1993, during tough economic times, voters approved I-601, which ...

Posted Wed, May 20, 1:10 p.m.

From: Tim Eyman RE: I gave Gregoire my I-900 t-shirt after her veto -- but it's not all good news I arrived in the Governor's reception area yesterday afternoon wearing a black, long-sleeve, Initiative 900 t-shirt with a menacing 900 pound gorilla on the front and back. Legislators and staffers ...

Posted Mon, May 11, 10:51 a.m.

As Lainie says, contacting Gregoire is critical. Send an email to Gregoire and tell her to uphold the voters' mandate on performance audits by veto'ing that section of the budget. Type out 2 or 3 sentences IN YOUR OWN WORDS asking her to veto that section of the budget, to ...

Posted Mon, May 11, 8:27 a.m.

From section 2 of I-900: To the greatest extent possible, the state auditor shall instruct and advise the appropriate governmental body on a step-by-step remedy to whatever ineffectiveness and inefficiency is discovered in the audited entity. For performance audits of state government and its agencies, programs, and accounts, the legislature ...

Posted Mon, May 11, 7:48 a.m.

Sunday's Olympian also sides with Sonntag: Give the money back to audit program, THE OLYMPIAN EDITORIAL BOARD, Sunday, May 10, 2009 http://www.theolympian.com/editorials/story/846363.html Also, the Seattle Times & Everett Herald editorial boards and others agree: SEATTLE TIMES: Save Sonntag's audits -- In a time of tight budgets — and this will ...

Posted Sun, Apr 19, 11:38 a.m.

a supporter put my Friday testimony against the tax hike on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjXbJTCmkdg Here's the text of it: You’re fooling no one. It’s become the oldest trick in the book – fund non-essential programs with existing taxes, then hold essential programs hostage, demanding a voter-approved ransom to get them ...

Posted Fri, Apr 10, 8 a.m.

From: tim eyman jmrolls comment: All of this may be illegal response: one must understand that in Olympia, nothing is illegal. Because Olympia is filled with LAWMAKERS, anything they do that is against current law, is simply reclassified as 'legal' and voila. everyone should move away from saying what they're ...

Posted Mon, Mar 16, 7:36 p.m.

From: Tim Eyman, the initiative guy The last edition of the Seattle PI is tomorrow's edition. The irony of its demise is crisply expressed by a recently published letter: So sad to see the P-I winding down. Every day there's less and less to read. But it's so hard to ...

Posted Thu, Oct 30, 3:12 p.m.

The media loves I-985 (really, they do) THE OLYMPIAN'S EDITORIAL BOARD: The Olympian's editorial board recommends a "yes" vote based in large part on the message it sends to lawmakers: Comprehensive solutions to the congestion problem must be found. ... This initiative is about legislative inaction. Every ignored performance audit ...

Posted Thu, Oct 30, 1:01 p.m.

Here's the op-ed that the PI refused to allow its readers to see: Olympia pays more attention to issues when the voters approve them at the ballot box. Lower class sizes, higher teacher pay, reduced car tabs, limits on property taxes: we never get everything we vote for, but elected ...