I-912 proponents offer fallacies, not facts

The Seattle P-I has started going after Brett Bader & Co. for putting out misinformation in the debate over I-912:

The campaign in support of Initiative 912 is rife with fallacies and falsehoods. Here's one of them:

Voting for I-912 will choke off money to those transit, light rail and monorail projects.

No, I-912 would repeal the gas-tax increase. The state constitution requires gas taxes to be spent only on highways and auto ferries, both of which will get $5.5 billion less if I-912 passes.

Indeed. Initiative 912 won't do anything to hurt mass transit. It will, however, cancel critical and desperately needed projects to improve public safety on our roadways.

And tomorrow, the P-I offers a short but lashing refutation of the claim that we should vote for 912 because no major projects will get completed:

Among the fallacies being spread by Initiative 912 promoters is that the state's plan to use $5.5 billion over 16 years generated by a 9.5-cent gas tax increase doesn't complete any projects.

There are hundreds of projects across the state -- including overdue bridge repairs -- that will be completed with this money. And the new money will provide a healthy start on such "mega" projects as replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the Evergreen Point Bridge.

If I-912 backers want to fully fund these huge projects right away, let's hear their proposal to raise gas taxes even more.

With I-912, the projects don't even get started.

Another fallacy offered by I-912 proponents? They seem to think we can build our way out of congestion. They also believe that we should be focusing on congestion relief and new pavement while ignoring public safety issues. That's unsound policy.

Vote NO on Initiative 912 and support safer roadways.