Tim Eyman’s latest initiative, I- 807, is yet another bad idea designed to bankrupt government while making Eyman rich, Council 2 believes.
The union is joining other labor leaders in saying the initiative is a recipe for fiscal disaster.
The measure would impose a new super-majority requirement for legislative approval of tax increases — unless voters approve them.
Pat Thompson, Council 2 Director of Legislation/Political Action says that county and city governments originally were included in the initiative, but Eyman decided to cut out local government.
Nevertheless, Council 2’s excecutive board voted to oppose the measure in principle.
“It sets a terrible precedent that prevents governments from operating efficiently that we should be concerned about,” Thompson says.
I-807 also would re-impose state spending limits. Previous spending-cap handcuffs were such a dramatic failure that they were gradually amended and ultimately thrown out entirely by legislators of both parties.
The initiative comes at a time when Washington state, facing a $2.6 billion revenue shortfall, is struggling to maintain basic services.
If a spending cap is imposed now, it will prevent the state from restoring cuts at schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities.
With health care and other costs rising at a pace above inflation, I-807 will guarantee more cuts, more wage freezes for school employees and other public employees, and more layoffs.
