Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Washington
Related: About this forumBattle Over I-1366 Shifts To November Ballot
http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/battle-over-i-1366-shifts-to-november-ballothe Washington State Supreme Court stopped short of removing Initiative 1366 a dangerous proposal that threatens funding for schools and other services average people rely on from the November 2015 ballot.
Initiative 1366 would undercut democracy in our state by threatening lawmakers with billions of dollars in cuts to schools, health care, public safety, and other popular investments unless they pass a constitutional amendment giving a minority of legislators the power to overrule the majority in all state tax and budget decisions. The Courts ruling means its up to voters to reject this damaging proposal at the polls later this year.
This proposal is the latest effort from Tim Eyman, who has a long history of promoting tax initiatives that benefit the richest families in Washington state at the expense of funding for education and other investments that benefit all Washingtonians.
The measure would reduce the state sales tax rate to 5.5 percent from 6.5 percent, eliminating $1.4 billion per year in tax revenues, unless policymakers do what Eyman and his ultra-wealthy backers want by passing a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature to enact any state tax increase instead of the simple majority (50 percent plus one) required for most other legislative actions.
Voters decision on I-1366 will come at a crucial moment in Washington state history. In 2012, the State Supreme Court found that lawmakers have been underfunding public schools in Washington state for decades. Under the Courts McCleary ruling, the legislature and the governor were ordered to increase spending on K-12 education by billions of dollars in order to ensure the states children receive the high-quality education theyll need to compete in the 21st century economy. Complying with the Courts order without doing irreparable damage to other critical investments like higher education, health care, and child care, will require policymakers to raise additional resources and modernize Washingtons 1930s-era tax system.
I-1366 threatens the state with just the opposite. The two-thirds supermajority vote on taxes sought by Eyman would make it virtually impossible to raise new resources for schools required by the State Supreme Court. Instead lawmakers would have to impose devastating cuts to other investments kids from struggling families need to be successful in the classroom, such as nutritious meals, mental health services, and safe housing.
Voters should reject I-1366 at the November ballot to send a clear signal that lawmakers should focus on building a prosperous future for all of Washington states kids.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 1347 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (10)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Battle Over I-1366 Shifts To November Ballot (Original Post)
eridani
Sep 2015
OP
Salviati
(6,008 posts)1. Fuck Tim Eyman
The only initiative I would have voted for that had his name on it was the one that would have officially declared him a horse's ass.
(as an aside "Fuck Tim Eyman" was an autocomplete suggestion in the reply title box. I guess it's a conditioned response to seeing his name now...)
eridani
(51,907 posts)2. I knew I left something out! n/t