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POLICY HIGHLIGHTER
 Volume 11, Number 4 Unlocking Gridlock A Five-Part series on improving transportation without raising taxes ". . . hold us accountable." – Governor Gary Locke Introduction: Money isn’t the Answer It has only been a year since voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative 695 with a loud and clear "We’re sick of throwing money at a broken system." However, only a month into the new legislative session, lawmakers are already talking about a "revenue package" (a nicer way of saying tax increases) to fix our transportation mess. The Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation recently presented its recommendations to the governor and legislature, including proposals for eleven new tax and fee increases. Unfortunately, their approach is no different than past ones: they will throw more money at an already dysfunctional system. More money isn’t the answer - at least not now. The problems with our current system run far deeper than its funding. A flawed budget process, lack of clear goals, lack of standards for accountability, inefficient planning, and poor agency structure all contribute to a "black hole" that swallows taxpayer money. These issues must be addressed before the idea of new funding even comes to the table. Over the next few weeks, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation will publish a series of five Policy Highlighters outlining how the legislature and the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) can save money and fund much needed infrastructure improvements to our transportation system without raising taxes. The series will present the following recommendations:
Prepared by Jay Balasbas, Communications Deputy, (360) 956-3482 or jbalasbas@effwa.org
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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
