The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the crusade against I-985
The editorial board at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer can't stop editorializing about Initiative 985, Tim Eyman's "traffic congestion relief" measure. After its initial Oct. 10 recommendation for voters to reject the initiative, the paper has penned seven additional anti-I-985 editorials. Meanwhile, the paper has published just one Eyman op-ed in favor of the measure.
Here's the original recommendation, "No way on I-985" from Oct. 10.
And the rest:
Oct. 19: Seattle and I-985: A new subsidy
Oct. 22: Another 'no' on I-985: Robbing education
Oct. 23: Another No on I-985: Slick audit claims
Oct. 26: Another No on I-985; Red-light warning
Oct. 27: Another No on I-985: Bush's surprise
Oct. 28: Another No on I-985: Risk to our safety
Oct. 29: Another No on I-985: Wrecking budgets
And it's not over yet. According to the P-I's Virtual Editorial Board, a closing pitch against the measure is coming in Friday's paper.
Update: Eyman just forwarded me his e-mail conversation with the P-I's editorial staff. Apparently, he asked to respond to their "near-daily editorials against I-985," but P-I staff members allowed him only to submit a 200-word letter to the editor, rather than respond with an additional guest editorial. Eyman has frequently responded in the paper's Soundoffs comments section online.
The P-I isn't the only paper to publish multiple op-eds against I-985. The Everett Herald and the Tacoma News Tribune have both editorialized twice about why voters should reject the measure, while columnists from all three papers have published arguments against I-985 as well. For a complete roundup of the state's major newspaper endorsements, including on I-985, see Crosscut's handy endorsement guide.
Another update: P-I editorial page editor Mark Trahant writes to say the paper is "proud to crusade" against what it considers "a poor initiative." Take a look at the comments section to read Eyman's unpublished response editorial.
Final update: The P-I has its final editorial online. Here's their explanation why they've penned so many arguments against I-985:
Here are three reasons. First, we see this initiative as terrible transportation policy, an approach that will make traffic worse and daily commutes longer. Second, stripping local governments of money for red-light cameras is a safety issue for us. This measure's passage will endanger our streets and intersections. The third reason is strategic: We think the more people know about Initiative 985, the more likely it is that they will reach the same conclusion we did.
This is a no-vote brainer.
Comments:
Posted Thu, Oct 30, 1:01 p.m. inappropriate
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 officials try harder when the voters illustrate that they care enough about an issue to approve it with an initiative.
This year’s “Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative” I-985 is a no-new-taxes transportation reform proposal meant to get Olympia focused on this critical issue.
Making our transportation system work better needs to be a priority because our state is grinding to a halt – that increases citizens’ time and frustration on the road, slows down the growth of our economy, lowers take-home pay, kills jobs, and reduces tax revenue to state and local governments.
There is no doubt that we can do better with what we already have. Clearing out accidents faster, requiring all 281 cities and 39 counties to optimize traffic flow by installing state-of-the-art traffic light synchronization technology, opening carpool lanes to everyone during non-peak hours, just as other cities do: these policies will increase traffic flow for everyone. They’re not going to eliminate our state’s traffic congestion problem, but they will make things better and prod Olympia to do a better job on transportation.
I-985’s effective traffic flow policies are relatively inexpensive, but they do cost money. But rather than demanding more from taxpayers, I-985 demands that Olympia spend more effectively the money they’re already taking from us. I-985 doesn’t raise taxes one penny, instead it dedicates a small portion of the existing state sales tax from the purchase of new and used vehicles, the profits from red light cameras, and revenue previously spent for art on transportation projects toward funding I-985’s policies.
How should the government adapt to I-985’s $150 million per year dedication of existing revenue?
Under voter-approved Initiative 900, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, a Democrat, has completed 13 audits so far, made 496 recommendations, and identified $3.5 billion in potential savings. Three and half billion dollars. If Olympia stops ignoring his growing list of recommendations and starts implementing them instead, not only will they cover the miniscule fiscal impact of I-985, but they’ll go a long way toward helping the Legislature close the upcoming $3.2 billion budget deficit.
When the Olympian newspaper endorsed I-985, they wrote: “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 is a potential initiative.”
Our primary motivation for I-985 is to show Olympia that neither the average taxpayer nor our state’s struggling economy can afford higher taxes right now; instead government must prioritize and spend more effectively the money they’re already taking from us. Remember, Auditor Sonntag has identified $3.5 billion in savings.
Opponents’ proposals force taxpayers to pay more – I-985 forces Olympia to spend existing revenues more effectively.
Washington is the 5th highest taxed state in the nation – I-985 keeps us from hitting #1.
Taxpayers are tapped out. Let’s tell Olympia: don’t take more from taxpayers, adopt Sonntag’s growing list of audit recommendations and reform government instead. Vote “Yes” on I-985.
Posted Thu, Oct 30, 3:12 p.m. inappropriate
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 is a potential initiative.
JOHN CARLSON, COLUMNIST / TALK RADIO LEADER: This is not a close call -- If there was ever a department of government that needed to receive a message from the voters, it's the Department of Transportation. This Eyman initiative is reasonable, sensible and long overdue. Yes on I-985. Yes 10 times over.
YAKIMA VALLEY BUSINESS TIMES: Governmental complacency and incompetence often are initiative Petri dishes and that's what has happened here -- we would like to see the people of the state of Washington send the following signal to our elected officials and our bureaucrats: ignore the results of a performance audit at your own peril.
PAM DZAMA, KITSAP SUN COLUMNIST: Initiatives like I-985 would be unnecessary if the Legislature would respond to the transportation needs of the citizens. It's time to make traffic congestion relief a transportation goal.
CENTRALIA CHRONICLE EDITORIAL BOARD: We urge a yes vote on I-985 -- it will help reduce traffic congestion, and perhaps more important, send a message to Olympia to start acting upon Auditor Sonntag's recommendations for a more efficient government.
We've also heard supportive comments from officials:
STATE AUDITOR BRIAN SONNTAG: "Tim's effort to take our audit findings, to take our audit reports and the constructive nature of that and try to move it into action I think is a laudable next step." (MESSAGE FROM EYMAN:
thanks, Brian)
GOVERNOR GREGOIRE: "Of course we will be ready to implement the initiative if it becomes law," said Pearse Edwards, spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire. (MESSAGE FROM EYMAN: thanks, Chris)
DINO ROSSI: Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi confirmed he planned to vote for I-985 because he believes it will reduce congestion.
(MESSAGE FROM EYMAN: thanks, Dino)
SPEAKER FRANK CHOPP: Chopp said he's firmly in place to permit tolling on the 520, but less so on I-90. "It's important that if tolling on I-90 goes forward, that the money remains inside the I-90 corridor, he said. (MESSAGE FROM EYMAN: that's exactly what I-985 does - thanks, Frank)
CURRENT TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PAULA HAMMOND: "Hammond said she has asked her staff to 'develop an implementation plan' to be ready -- She said "It's part of my stewardship and responsibility" - (MESSAGE FROM EYMAN: thanks, Paula)
FORMER TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DOUG MACDONALD: "All the odds are against our winning this, expectations are terrible" (MESSAGE FROM EYMAN: thanks,
Doug)
SEATTLE TIMES: State officials initially were concerned that opening up the HOV lanes could jeopardize federal funds. But the Federal Highway Administration, which would have to approve any change in the use of HOV lanes, said money would not be at risk. "It would not jeopardize any federal funds if the state went to part-time HOV lanes," said Dan Mathis, division administrator for the federal agency's Washington state office.
(MESSAGE FROM EYMAN: thanks, Dan)
STATE AUDITOR BRIAN SONNTAG: Brian was asked "is the approach that Eyman's taking a fair interpretation of your audit?", he responded: "Yes, yes it is." And after Brian said he was staying neutral on I-985, he was asked: "But between you and me and our small public radio audience, do you think it's a good idea?", Brian responded: "Sure I do. I think it's a good idea" (MESSAGE FROM EYMAN: thanks again, Brian)
Such overwhelming support certainly helps our efforts, but nothing boosts enthusiasm and brings voters into the 'yes' camp more than the Chicken Little, sky-is-falling comic relief provided by opponents.