I-912 makes it to the ballot--the war is on

Over 420,000 signatures in 32 days with no paid drive. It's impressive.... and depressing.

Yes, we hate it that they won this one.

They could never have done it without the day in, day out campaigning of two KVI drivetime talk hosts, John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur, for two and a half months.

They could never have done it without the public airwaves being used to strategize, organize and raise funds for the effort.

Maybe we can get someone to buy us a radio station...

Carlson and Wilbur have gloating rights today. We won't, however, congratulate anyone, because we think responsible representative government will be hurt if I-912 passes.

The opposition, being painted as "establishment elites," were actually a bipartisan majority of the people's duly-elected representatives. For once, they did what we always say we want politicians to do: they stuck out their necks, did something that needed to be done, even though it was unpopular and could be so easily demagogued.

The anti-campaign has no politics plan except they don't want to pay more for gas. The alternative they have to fixing the roads is not fixing the roads.

(In terms of clout and relevance, Carlson and Wilbur make Tim Eyman and Chris Vance look like Green Party officials. Unelected and unelectable, they are among the most powerful politicos in the state).

Comments

[Lump]

"Maybe we can get someone to buy us a radio station..."

What's the matter with the one you're always promoting? Oh yeah, the one nobody listens to. I'm willing to pay a lttle more tax when they show me they manage it properly. What about the zillions they now collect from the .28? You make it sound like there is no tax money available.

[Duane]

And the cherry on top of all of this is Saturday's Seattle TIMES editorial! They correctly chastised stupid Judge Wickham or is it Judge Wiccan for brewing up such an intensely STUPID ruling regarding the first amendment. Degrees from KMART's laws school are simply lacking. Wickham will be overturned as fast as Samantha can twitch her nose.

[Michael B.]

I'd be happy to pay a higher gas tax if Olympia can show me what they are doing with the 28 Cents they are currently extracting per gallon AND when they come up with a plan that will actually reduce congestion....like new roads!

[snoutcounter]

to borrow a phrase...SLAM DUNK MOTHERFUCKERS

[blathering Michael]

ouch.

[mndcrm]

hey, i could care less if they ever raise another tax. i'd just like to hear from the republicans what they want to cut to replace the loss of tax revenue so when the cuts hit home, the voters can say, "fuck you" right back by voting them out of office for cutting their programs. republicans are famous for giving to the rich and taking from the poor, but do they ever stand out on the street come re-election time and say, sorry buddy, to bad for you. nope.

[mndcrm]

The I-912 Web site proclaims: "The gas tax increase costs us $8.5 billion and helps no one." No, the gas tax increase is not $8.5 billion; it is just over $5.5 billion.

Helps no one?

Double-check that allegation in Adams County, where the money is slated to build a passing lane for eastbound state Route 26 traffic to reduce the risk of head-on collisions; or in Benton County, where it would build passing lanes on SR 241 to reduce collisions; or in counties where bridges would be replaced with new ones designed to current standards, places such as Chiwaukum Creek near Leavenworth, George Sellar Bridge in Wenatchee, West Fork Hoquiam River Bridge in Grays Harbor County, the Gen. Mark W. Clark Memorial Bridge in Island County, Fork Chehalis River and Rock Creek bridges in Lewis County and the Goldsborough Creek Bridge in Mason County.

Will no one be helped by installing guardrails and other measures to improve safety and reduce the severity of collisions along rural SR 112 from Neah Bay to Seiku in Clallam County, or U.S. Route 12 Waitsburg to Asotin in Columbia and Garfield counties, or on SR 21, SR 25 and SR 395 in Ferry County?

Won't it help anyone to reduce congestion and collisions by reconfiguring the Valley Mall Boulevard interchange in Yakima County, or rebuilding the I-5/Downtown Bellingham On/Off Ramps, or building a new interchange at U.S. 12 and SR 124 in Walla Walla County, or redoing the SR 20/ Sharpes Corner Vicinity interchange in Skagit County?

Won't anyone be helped by a new six-lane I-90 from Hyak to Keechelus Dam on I-90 Snoqualmie Pass east, or a passing lane for northbound traffic on U.S. 97 through Blewett Pass, or a vehicle holding area at the Port Townsend Ferry Terminal to improve ferry loading and reduce congestion on city streets?

Of course, a big chunk of the new gas tax money goes toward helping those who depend on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the Evergreen Point Bridge and I-405 in the Seattle area, where the state's population is centered and where products move to port and to market from across the state. (Yes, these projects are expensive, but they're absolutely necessary.)

How will these projects get done if the money to build them is repealed? That -- not a few pennies a gallon -- should be the real issue for voters in November.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/231830_gazprojectsed.asp

[Michael B.]

mndcrm: They already get 28 Cents for every gallon of gas pumped, every minute of every day of the year. This brings in minimally and reliably over $750,000,000 dollars a year. Maybe more as this is the revenue from FY 2003. In any case those of us who who will vote for I-912 are waiting for a plan that will reduce congestion as well as maintain the roads. We want less waste, no pet projects, open bidding and a priority to reducing traffic.

Trust me, when a plan is presented that can truly stop congestion on the 1-5 corridor between Olympia and Everett, On I-405 and I-90, then you will see a different attitude from the I-912 crowd.

Source: (http://dor.wa.gov/Docs/Pubs/ExciseTax/FilTaxReturn/MajorTaxes.htm)