Three times the voters have approved initiatives requiring either a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or a majority vote of the people to raise taxes. Three times. Yet Olympia took it away this year, despite overwhelming citizen opposition.

According to KING 5’s statewide poll, 68% of voters thought it was the wrong thing to do. When asked whether tax increases should require a two-thirds vote or a majority vote, a whopping 74 percent said two-thirds.

Voters want tax increases to be an absolute last resort.

For the two years following voters approval in 2007, Initiative 960 worked exactly as voters intended. With I-960, tax increases were a last resort and Olympia balanced its budgets without raising taxes. This year without I-960, they increased taxes $6.7 billion. I-1053 brings back I-960’s protections.

Olympia faces another big deficit because unsustainable spending has once again outstripped revenue. With I-1053, Olympia will finally be forced to reform government, prioritize spending and re-evaluate existing programs. Without I-1053, they’ll resort to job-killing, recession-extending, family-budget-busting tax increases (just like they did this year).

Opponents of I-1053 make it sound like we’re proposing something brand new. The fact is that since 1993, Washington’s had the two-thirds vote requirement for the Legislature to raise taxes. In those 17 years, during legislative sessions when it’s been in effect, tax hikes were a last resort, resulting in more reform and fewer taxes. When Olympia suspends it (like this year), tax increases become a first resort resulting in less reform and much higher taxes ($6.7 billion in higher taxes this year).

Before this year’s legislative session began, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said, “We have to get 960 overturned as soon as possible.”  Speaker of the House Frank Chopp said, “We must suspend 960 to carry out the will of the people.”  Gov. Gregoire said citizens should “stop meddling” and “leave it to us.”  This shows that increasing taxes was their first resort, not the last resort.

In a September 2008 debate, candidate Gregoire said, “I won’t raise taxes in tough economic times … we’re not going to be raising taxes.” Let’s resurrect that promise.

The people are being forced to pass this again and again because Olympia keeps refusing to abide by this voter-approved law.

We’ve received numerous newspaper endorsements for I-1053. Here’s our favorite:

Vancouver Columbian – “Three years ago we opposed Initiative 960 (another two-thirds requirement for tax increases) on the grounds that legislators should be allowed to do their jobs and be held accountable in subsequent elections. Much has changed in those three years. The Legislature has failed so miserably in multiple budget crises that we now believe a strong message should be sent: Forget tax increases during a recession.  I-1053 delivers that message.”

It shouldn’t be easy for government to take more of the people’s money. Let’s bring back the protection Olympia took away – vote YES on 1053.

Reach Tim Eyman, one of I-1053’s 13 co-sponsors, at 425-493-8707 or www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com.