Over $17 billion in higher taxes — our tax advisory votes allow the voters pamphlet to serve …

Despite the voters’ clear don’t-raise-taxes message last November, this year’s Legislature imposed tax increases that will cost the taxpayers over $17 billion.  These tax increases were imposed unilaterally; they did not put them on the ballot for the voters to decide.  And to make sure the voters were blocked from deciding the issue by doing a referendum, the Legislature slapped emergency clauses on the tax increase bills.  That maneuver negates the people’s right to collect signatures and veto these tax increases at the ballot box.

        But thanks to the people’s overwhelming approval of our previous tax initiatives, voters get to vote on these tax increases this fall with our tax advisory votes. 

         In November, the voters will learn which taxes were increased, how much they’ll cost, identify which legislators voted yay and nay, and let the people express their support or opposition to each tax increase.

          Our tax advisory votes allow the voters pamphlet to serve as a tax increase report card.

          Here’s what will be on November ballot (just below our Initiative 1366 protecting taxpayers and I-1401 protecting animals):

* Tax Advisory Vote #10:  The legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, oil spill response and administrative taxes to apply to crude oil or petroleum products transported by railroad, costing $17,000,000, for government spending.

This tax increase should be: Repealed [ ] Maintained [ ]

* Tax Advisory Vote #11:  The legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, the marijuana excise tax on medical marijuana sales, costing an amount that cannot be currently estimated, for government spending.

This tax increase should be: Repealed [ ] Maintained [ ]

* Tax Advisory Vote #12:  The legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, additional taxes on motor vehicle and special fuels costing an estimated $3,707,000,000 in the first ten years, for government spending.

This tax increase should be: Repealed [ ] Maintained [ ]

* Tax Advisory Vote #13:  The legislature increased business and occupation tax revenues and excluded certain software manufacturers from a retail sales tax exemption, without a vote of the people, costing $1,449,000,000 for government spending.
This tax increase should be: Repealed [ ] Maintained [ ]

        COST TO THE TAXPAYERS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS:  $5.173 billion.

        But it’s much higher than that.  It’s been widely reported that the transportation tax package will cost statewide taxpayers over $16 billion.  And the Legislature allowed Sound Transit to increase taxes another $15 billion on Puget Sound taxpayers.

        Initiative 1366 is called the “Taxpayer Protection Act” for a reason:   it’s all about protecting the taxpayers from Olympia’s insatiable tax appetite.  Whenever people ask why our initiative is necessary, all we say is “Did you see how tax-obsessed Olympia was this year?”