Working together, we stopped PROPERTY TAXES from SKYROCKETING by defeating House Bill 1362.

Mon, May 17, 2021

I remember in 1992, when uber-liberal Mike Lowry became our state’s Democrat Governor. The 1993 legislative session went so off the rails with liberals jacking up taxes and spending that the voters reacted with Initiative 601 that put strict limits on Olympia’s voracious tax appetite.

That Mike Lowry Liberal General Fund “leapt” to: $15.2 billion.

This year:

It’s amazing to observe that Mike Lowry was a rock-ribbed conservative compared to crazy Jay.

Nonetheless, it’s important to celebrate the victories we had during the session.

Do you remember this?

March 19, 2021: SKYROCKETING PROPERTY TAX BILLS if this last minute surprise bill passes.

THOUSANDS of you responded and legislators were POUNDED with emails and phone calls.

What was our message:

For the email, copy & paste this (or write your own):

I AM VISCERALLY OPPOSED TO SKYROCKETING PROPERTY TAXES. Don’t even think about supporting House Bill 1362. 58% of voters overwhelmingly passed the 1% property tax cap. 89% of legislators and a Democrat Governor backed it.

So there’s been an overwhelming vote of the people and even a broader legislative vote for the 1% cap. …

Some want to go back to the “good old days” when state and local governments could jack up property taxes as much as they wanted without voter approval. That would be horrible for taxpayers. …

Take away the 1% with HB 1362, and property taxes would skyrocket.

The 1% limit has protected taxpayers for 21 years. It continues to have broad public support. Olympia shouldn’t take it away.

— END —

Legislators got overwhelmed by outraged citizens.

One legislator tried his best to “call off the dogs” by claiming the bill missed the cutoff (“This bill has died in committee this year”).

But then I challenged him and he responded:

From: “Chapman, Rep. Mike” <mike.chapman@leg.wa.gov>
Date: March 23, 2021 at 4:10:29 PM PDT
To: Tim Eyman <tim.eyman@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: Rep. Chapman, see attached

My bad. I thought it was dead but I now hear it still is alive for now.
For what its worth I am opposed.
Rep. Chapman

I had learned that the bill was written in a way to sidestep the normal bill cut-off by declaring it “necessary to implement the budget” — even a lot of legislators don’t know that!

What a bunch of dirty dogs!

The 1% cap has protected taxpayers for 21 years and has saved taxpayers over $17.2 billion!

The old limit was 6%. That meant state government could increase your property taxes 6% per year. And they always took the max.

And counties could take 6% per year — and always did.

And cities could take 6% per year — and always did.

And port districts could take 6% per year — and always did.

And all those 6%’s compounded EVERY YEAR.

Then in 2001, voters overwhelmingly passed our initiative and it lowered the annual cap for each government to 1% unless voters OK’d a higher increase.

And it has been under relentless attack ever since.

So I urged all of you to “hit em again”:

March 31, 2021: SKYROCKETING PROPERTY TAX BILL STILL ALIVE: everyone needs to email legislators NOW!

And you did.

And we won.

We killed the bill (for the 20th year in a row).

So no matter how much residential and commercial real estate property taxes go up in the coming year(s), it could’ve been 6 TIMES HIGHER if not for the death of this year’s Democrat bill.

For 21 years, we’ve fought to protect our voter-approved law.

And due to our diligent “watch-dogging” of every legislative session, and your responses, we’ve succeeded.

Is it any wonder AG Ferguson wants a lifetime ban on my future political activity?

I’m 100% committed to appealing these ridiculously unconstitutional restrictions on the First Amendment because if they get away with it with me, you could be next!

But we need your help to do it.

Please donate to my legal defense fund here: 

By: Paypal
By: Debit Card or Credit Card
Or mail a check: Tim Eyman Legal Defense Fund, 500 106th Ave NE #709, Bellevue, WA, 98004

In addition, we worked really hard on our $30 Tabs Initiative:

Karen and I sacrificed a lot — we sold off our retirement fund to kickstart its signature drive:

And now, a message from Sid Maietto and Larry Jensen: 

We’re asking folks to donate to our PAC so Tim can get paid back. And your donations will also help stop Inslee’s Income Tax and Carbon Tax Schemes with the initiatives we’re co-sponsoring with Tim.

The taxpayers of Washington need our help now more than ever. Donate to our political committee so we can keep fighting for you:

By: Paypal
By: Debit Card or Credit Card
Or mail a check — made payable to “Permanent Offense” — to: Permanent Offense, PO Box 6151, Olympia, WA, 98507.

Kindest Regards,

Sid Maietto & Larry Jensen

— END —

Thanks everyone.

I love you all.

Tim