NPI ENDORSEMENTS FOR 2007 STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES
Welcome to NPI's endorsements page for 2007 Washington State ballot measures. For each initiative, we've included our position, a description of what the ballot measure is, and the rationale for our stand, as well as a link to the relevant campaign.
Initiative 960
Position: Vote a resounding NO
Description: "This measure would require two-thirds legislative approval or voter approval for tax increases, legislative approval of fee increases, certain published information on tax-increasing bills, and advisory votes on taxes enacted without voter approval."
Reason: The latest in a series of unconstitutional initiatives from Tim Eyman, created from the ashes of his failed 2003 proposal and other disastrous libertarian schemes for handcuffing legislatures around the country, I-960 attempts to paralyze state government and undermine representative democracy by forcing lawmakers to operate under un-American rules.
It would allow minority Republicans to control the budgeting process in Olympia by requiring two thirds supermajority votes for revenue (or tax) increases. But that isn't all I-960 does: it goes further by mandating "advisory votes" of the people on revenue increases even after they make it through the Legislature.
These advisory votes are nonbinding - meaning that taxpayer dollars are spent to conduct what amounts to nothing more than opinion polls on our ballots which have no legal effect.
If enacted, I-960 would accomplish the incredible feat of wasting money while making it more difficult to adequately fund the public services we all depend on, like schools. But exactly how it impacts state government is unclear, because of its complicated language. It's so poorly drafted that even Tim Eyman has trouble explaining it.
On a local website (Crosscut), responding to a question from another commenter, Eyman wrote: "You asked for a simple description of I-960. I just can't give it to you." When a master of media manipulation can't boil down his own initiative into a nice sound bite, that's a sign that what he is hawking is not a straightforward, reasonable idea.
Protect our cherished tradition of majority rule and prevent our government from being handicapped by voting NO on Initiative 960.
More Information: Permanent Defense
Proposition 1, Roads & Transit
Position: Vote YES
Description: "To reduce transportation congestion, increase road and transit capacity, promote safety, facilitate mobility, provide for an integrated regional transportation system, and improve the health, welfare, and safety of the citizens of Washington, shall Sound Transit (a regional transit authority) implement a regional rail and transit system linking Lynnwood, Shoreline, Northgate, Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, SeaTac airport, Kent, Federal Way and Tacoma as described in the Sound Transit 2 plan, financed by the existing taxes approved by the voters in 1996 and an additional sales and use tax of up to five-tenths of one percent imposed by Sound Transit, all as provided in Resolution No. R2007-15; and shall a regional transportation investment district (RTID) be formed and authorized to implement and invest in improving the regional transportation system by replacing vulnerable bridges, improving safety, and increasing capacity on state and local roads to further link major education, employment, and retail centers as described in Moving Forward Together: A Blueprint for Progress – King Pierce Snohomish Counties, financed by a sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent and a local motor vehicle excise tax of eight-tenths of one percent imposed by RTID, all as provided in Resolution No. PC-2007-02; further provided that the Sound Transit taxes shall be imposed only within the boundaries of Sound Transit, and the RTID taxes shall be imposed only within the boundaries of the RTID?"
Reason: After several years of gathering public input and identifying a strategy for attacking congestion, Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID) have proposed a Roads & Transit package which asks residents in the urban areas of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties to increase the local sales tax and vehicle fees to fund a broad array of improvements to our regional transportation infrastructure.
The Roads & Transit package represents the first long-term strategic plan ever created to address our needs. It would increase transportation choices and ensure a greener commute by building new park & ride lots, constructing new Sounder stations, and adding more HOV lanes, buses and vanpools. It makes commutes safer by replacing or retrofitting vulnerable bridges, installing new lighting, signage, traffic signals, adding medians or turning lanes, and fixes dangerous choke points. It completes unfinished highways, enhances the movement of freight, extends shoulders, upgrades highway ramps, and eliminates weaving traffic.
At the heart of Proposition 1 is an expansion of Sound Transit's Link light rail system, an essential ingredient in a multimodal transportation network. The fifty miles of new track would bring light rail to Tacoma, Lynnwood, Redmond, and the many communities in between, allowing hundreds of thousands of Puget Sound residents to enjoy a reliable commute.
While the roads component of Proposition 1 includes a handful of shortsighted highway widening projects, the entire package is transit-oriented, and worth supporting. In fact, most of the road projects are actually beneficial to the transit investments. This is why many leading local environmental organizations, including Futurewise, Transportation Choices Coalition, and the Washington Conservation Voters, all support Roads & Transit.
After months of discussion and compromise, it is time to act. We can't afford the inevitable delays and cost increases that would result from the rejection of Roads & Transit. It's time to invest in a transit-friendly future. Vote yes on Proposition 1.
More Information: Yes on Roads and Transit
Referendum 67
Position: Vote YES
Description: "The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5726 (ESSB 5726) concerning insurance fair conduct related to claims for coverage or benefits and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would make it unlawful for insurers to unreasonably deny certain coverage claims, and permit treble damages plus attorney fees for that and other violations. Some health insurance carriers would be exempt."
Reason: Referendum 67 is a forced public vote, paid for by the insurance industry, to scare Washingtonians into repealing a needed consumer protection law passed by the state Legislature last spring. This law, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5726, prevents insurance companies from escaping justice when they treat customers unfairly.
For months the industry has been astroturfing, masquerading as the front group "Consumers Against Higher Insurance Rates" in a campaign to deceive the public so it can escape accountability. The industry would love to be able to build payouts from lawsuits into the cost of doing business, but this law stands in their way.
For Washington families, Referendum 67 is a simple choice between having a legal safeguard that deters industry carelessness and irresponsibility... or not having that safeguard. What the law does is outlaw unreasonable delays or the denial of legitimate claims, and allows consumers to seek a greater penalty in court if their insurer breaks the law.
The industry is doing everything it can to get trick voters into rejecting Referendum 67, from buying a blitz of deceptive television commercials to giving agents threatening letters to send to policyholders. Don't fall for their deceit and misleading rhetoric. Vote Yes on Referendum 67 and keep a needed consumer protection law in place.
More Information: Approve Referendum 67
SJR 8206 - Rainy Day Fund
Position: Vote YES
Description: "The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on establishment of a budget stabilization account. This amendment would require the legislature to transfer 1% of general state revenues to a budget stabilization account each year and prohibit expenditures from the account except as set forth in the amendment."
Reason: Senate Joint Resolution 8206 is a practical constitutional amendment that requires state government to set aside one percent of revenues collected each fiscal year for future emergencies, whether they be natural disasters or economic downturns.
This "rainy day fund" can only be tapped by a majority of the Legislature if the Governor has declared a state of emergency due to a catastrophic event or if the employment growth forecast falls below one percent in a fiscal year. Otherwise, moneys cannot be withdrawn from the fund without a three fifths supermajority vote of each house.
Just as a financially wise American family puts money into savings for a future crisis, it makes sense to have a Constitutionally guaranteed rainy day fund that our state can fall back on during an emergency. It is progressives who are truly fiscally responsible, and we can be proud of Governor Christine Gregoire and our Democratic Legislature for hammering out and sending to voters a short but meaningful amendment that strengthens our common wealth.
More Information: Yes on 8206
EHJR 4204 - Simple Majority for Public Schools
Position: Vote YES
Description: "The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on school district tax levies. This amendment would provide for approval of school district excess property tax levies by simple majority vote of participating voters, and would eliminate supermajority approval requirements based on voter turnout in previous elections."
Reason: After years of lobbying in Olympia, advocates for great public schools, including many progressive activists and organizations, succeeded in persuading the Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot this year lifting the unfair supermajority requirement that must currently be met for a school levy to be successful. It's now up to the voters of Washington State to approve the amendment.
There are over a hundred school districts in Washington State that have placed levies on the ballot at least once over the last eight years which would have passed were it not for the supermajority restriction. It is rather disappointing to see some conservatives and libertarians defend this arcane, undemocratic rule because they don't like the idea of more money being invested in education. Living in a republic means majority rule with minority rights. It's time we allowed fiscal decisions about our schools to be made democratically. Vote yes on 4204.
More Information: Yes on 4204
EHJR 4215 - Higher Education Investment
Position: Vote YES
Description: "The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on investment of higher education permanent funds. This amendment would authorize the investment of money in higher education permanent funds as permitted by law, and would permit investment in stocks or bonds issued by any company, if authorized by law."
Reason: This amendment, specifically requested by Washington State University, is simple and straightforward. It allows money for higher education to be more freely invested by the Washington State Investment Board, which historically has had a very solid record of managing retirement and other funds on behalf of many constituencies, including public employees, teachers, school employees, law enforcement officers, firefighters and judges. (The total amount of assets under management by the WSIB is $82 billion).
What the amendment does is allow colleges and universities to put moneys such as the proceeds from the sale or lease of land into stocks and bonds, which is something many other public trusts can already do now. By removing restrictions that prohibit investment in higher yield securities, our institutions of higher learning can get a better return. Vote yes on 4215.
More Information: Voters' Pamphlet
SJR 8212 - Inmate Labor
Position: Vote YES
Description: "The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on inmate labor. This amendment would authorize state-operated inmate labor programs and programs in which inmate labor is used by private entities through state contracts, and prohibit privately operated programs from unfairly competing with Washington businesses."
Reason: The purpose of this constitutional amendment is to allow incaracerated Washingtonians to work for private companies from prison as long as the programs which employ them do not unfairly compete with other Washington businesses. Under the Constitution today, the private sector is not allowed to use inmate labor.
The amendment gives the Department of Corrections the responsibility of overseeing contracters who participate and certifying that inmate labor is not being used to gain an advantage over competitors in the same industry.
SJR 1812's language is somewhat vague and it could have been written to be more specific, but given its relative lack of controversy (it easily passed the Legislature), it could be improved later if necessary without much difficulty. Vote yes on SJR 8212.
More Information: Voters' Pamphlet
King County Proposition 1, Medic One Renewal
Position: Vote YES
Description: "The King County Council adopted Ordinance 15861 concerning funding for the Medic One emergency medical services system. This proposition would replace an expiring levy to continue funding of Medic One emergency medical services. It would authorize King County to impose regular property tax levies of $0.30 or less per thousand dollars of assessed valuation for each of six consecutive years, with collection beginning in 2008, as provided in King County Ordinance 15861."
Reason: Launched in the 1970s, Medic One is a groundbreaking emergency response program in King County that is known around the United States and the world for saving lives. The Medic One program provides quality, advanced patient care to King County citizens in need of emergency assistance. Its paramedics are trained under a joint program run by the University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, and the Seattle Fire Department.
In 2006, Medic One handled 166,000 nine-one-one calls (53,000 for advanced life support), which was an increase of nearly seven percent, but still managed to keep its response time at 7.5 minutes. Compared to other municipalities around the country, the cardiac arrest surival rate (as discharged from the hospital) is high at over 40 percent (the norm is between 5 and 30 percent). The levy renewal will pay for paramedics training, additional equipment, new units, and citizen CPR training. Medic One is a critical service exemplary of our progressive values that has successfully protected our public health for decades. Vote yes to renew the Medic One levy.
More Information: Yes on Medic One
King County Initiative 25
Position: Vote NO
Description: "Initiative 25 is a proposed ordinance. If approved by voters, it would place a charter amendment on the November 2008 general election ballot that would ask: “Shall the King County Charter be amended to provide that the position of county director of elections be created as a nonpartisan elected office?” Should Initiative 25 be adopted so that this charter amendment will be placed before voters in November 2008?"
Reason: Initiative 25 concerns the placement of a charter amendment on next year's ballot that would (if approved) create a new office responsible for administering elections within King County. This proposal, sponsored by ex-Representative Toby Nixon, who formerly served in the state House, is a partisan Republican attempt to take control of county elections. Since the 2004 gubernatorial election, which Dino Rossi narrowly lost to Christine Gregoire, Republicans have leveled unsubstantiated accusations of corruption, fraud, and mismanagement against King County Executive Ron Sims and the county's Elections Division.
Republican interests, including Tim Eyman's wealthy financier Michael Dunmire and the political action arm of the right wing Evergreen Freedom Foundation (a conservative/libertarian think tank based in Olympia) put up the money to buy their way onto the ballot through the collection of signatures by paid petitioners.
Republicans argue electing a director of elections is a reform, but the reason they support Initiative 25 is that it gives them an opportunity to control the canvassing board without a Republican county executive or a Republican majority on the county council.
The King County Canvassing Board is made up of three members: a representative from the prosecuting attorney, a representative from the chair of the county council, and a representative of the county executive. Republicans currently control the prosecutor's office; if they can retain that and influence the election of someone sympathetic to their views as the "nonpartisan" director of elections, they gain control of the canvassing board, not to mention the administration of elections.
Moving to an elected director of elections creates a new office that isn't needed. The person who is elected to run elections will end up hiring a professional just as the county executive does today. Republicans are arguing that we need to de-politicize county elections by politicizing them! That's what we'll get with I-25: political campaigns every four years for director of elections, and everything that goes along with that.
This initiative is unnecessary and backed by people with an axe to grind. Let's keep our elections director appointed and look at changes that will actually improve the management and effectiveness of King County Elections.
More Information: King County Democrats
© 2007 Smart Initiatives For Washington Alliance.
SIFWA is a division of the Northwest Progressive Institute.
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