Initiative 1033 and Referendum 71 will both be on the General Election ballot. The Chronicle’s Editorial Board urges passage of I-1033, which limits the ability of the state to raise taxes. We advise voters to turn down Ref. 71, which would allow expanded rights for domestic partners.
I-1033 is another effort by initiative guru Tim Eyman. He calls it the “lower property taxes” initiative. Those against it call it the “jobs killing” initiative.
It would limit state, county and city tax raises to annual inflation and population growth. Voter-approved revenue increases would not be impacted. And any tax revenue brought in above the limit would go toward reducing property tax levies. Simply stated, government would collect the same amount of taxes as it did the year before, plus inflation and population growth.
State officials predict if I-1033 passes, it would reduce state funds by $5.9 billion by 2015. Counties would lose about $694 million, with cities taking a $2.1 billion hit.
While unions, teachers and Democrats in general all oppose I-1033, it appears the voters agree with this Editorial Board. A recent poll of people expected to vote in Washington state had 61 percent in favor, with 31 percent opposed and 8 percent undecided.
We maintain our state government spends too much of our money and without outside pressure and laws such as I-1033, those running our governments will continue to turn toward higher taxes to fund ever-expanding programs.
Vote yes on I-1033.
Referendum 71
The state Legislature passed the expansion of domestic partnership rights, and Gov. Chris Gregoire signed it into law this past spring.
It has been referred to as the “everything but marriage” law for homosexual couples. We believe it is much more than that.
Three years ago the state Supreme Court upheld, with a 5-4 vote, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). It is likely that if Ref. 71 passes, the state’s high court would overturn DOMA and allow the state to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Ref. 71 is much more than an expansion of civil union rights for same-sex couples. It is about same-sex marriage in Washington state.
We continue to believe that marriage should be reserved for one man with one woman.
Vote no on Ref. 71.
sarabeth
Considering that there are many senior heterosexual couples living together so they don't lose retirement or social security benefits, it surprises me that this publication would say we should vote no on Referendum 71. It is bad enough that seniors should have to choose not to marry so that they don't lose their income - why should they not be allowed to have the other benefits of being in a committed relationship?
rainsoaked
Why should property tax payers shoulder the burden for Government services to all. If property tax is reduced then rent will adjust accordingly... I'm not rich and could use some relief from property taxes.
Steve Zemke MajorityRulesBlog
I-1033 is a wealth transfer scheme. It takes tax dollars paid by everyone and uses them to only pay property taxes for property owners. But not everyone owns property.Initiative 1033 is a giant tax shift that hurts lower income citizens and mainly benefits those with lots of property.Danny Westneat’s article in the Seattle Times says it all with his headline “I-1033 A Windfall for the Rich” http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/2010058262_danny14.htmlAs Westneat says, Eyman “...could have targeted his tax relief to help those who most need it. But he didn’t. This is the rotten core of his initiative.Forget all the caterwauling about spending cuts. At its heart this is a massive giveaway to the rich that does little or nothing for the poor.” A vote for I-1033 will help millionaires and corporations pay their property taxes at your expense. Vote No
onlynameleft
It's almost as if this is a newspaper for rural, conservative folk...oh, wait, it is. The views here never shock me but still disappoint me from time-to-time.