Like clockwork, initiative guru Tim Eyman once again pumps the press
for more publicity.
Eyman’s latest endeavor is I-1033, dubbed the “Lower Property Taxes
Initiative.” If passed, the initiative would require “the growth rate
of general fund revenues be limited to inflation and population
growth, while maintaining the same safety valve of voter approval for
higher increases,” according to Eyman.
For the average voter, this initiative and its summary might as well
be written in Chinese. Such proposals should be easy to
understand for ages 18 and up. Why leave it up to the media to figure
out what his initiatives are all about?
On the surface, the initiative’s nickname implies that residents win
in the name of lower property taxes.
We simply call I-1033 another attempt to micromanage government.
The Northwest Progressive Institute said I-1033 is “a cynical attack
on our common wealth.” The institute added that I-1033 would devastate
Washington state’s economy “by imposing artificial limits on how much
money goes into our schools, police and fire protection, libraries,
parks, pools, our transportation system, and every other public
service the government provides.”
Consider I-985, Eyman’s last initiative, which failed at the polls in
November. The “Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative” tackled too much:
HOV lanes, synchronizing traffic lights, roadside service and
micromanagement of money cities earned from red light cameras.
By failing at the polls, that initiative still prevented congestion —
of governmental efficiency.
We award Eyman the unofficial nickname of Mr. Micromanage. We would
prefer to say Mr. Justice or Mr. Freedom Expander or Mr. T. The “T”
would stand for “Tough,” as in one tough honcho arm wrestling Big
Brother (bonus brownie points for wearing a mohawk and gold chains).
Not all of Eyman’s efforts deserve scorn. Go back in the direction of
I-900, which passed in 2004 and gave the state auditor the ability to
conduct performance audits. As a result, the performance audits
revealed ways to save millions of dollars in taxes and even led to an
investigation on the Port of Seattle.
The state’s initiative process was intended for average citizens to
“right any wrongs” with their government. Instead, the process has
been hijacked by paid signature gatherers like Eyman, whose latest
initiatives come across as cluttered and disingenuous.
Eyman and crew need about 241,000 valid voter signatures to get I-1033
on the ballot. According to one report, Eyman won’t say how he’ll pay
for the effort or who will front him money.
Eyman should stick to initiatives that shatter the shackles of government rather than complicate them.
