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Press Release October 5, 2004 EFF members put candidates on the record OLYMPIA, WA – Thanks to several hundred members of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF), a large newspaper ad will appear in The News Tribune tomorrow alerting voters to those candidates who have gone on the record as supporting comprehensive, independent performance audits, and those who have not. The ad features the Washington state flag with the words “PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY” displayed above it, followed by the caption: “Does it matter to you? Does it matter to those who want your vote?” Text of the ad continues, “As taxpayers, we have a right to know that our hard- earned tax-dollars are being spent wisely and efficiently by our elected officials.” Current legislators and candidates from legislative districts 2, 5, 11, 20, 22-35, 37 and 41 are listed along with their response (or lack thereof) to the EFF pledge. The ad is part of EFF’s Performance Audit Pledge campaign, a statewide effort asking legislators and candidates for the state legislature and governor to sign a promise to support comprehensive performance audits. The pledge includes simple, straight forward model language. It states, in part:
The ad coincides with today’s release of the updated pledge results. To date, EFF has obtained 130 general election candidate pledges to support performance audits, including ones from Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi and Speaker of the Washington State House, Democrat Frank Chopp. As part of its educational efforts, EFF also distributed the results of its pledge survey in a publication sent to its members and the public. EFF members were then asked if they would like to support an advertisement to help spread the results further. “Like most Washington taxpayers, EFF members demand accountability in state spending. Other states have saved billions of dollars by using performance audits as part of a priority-based budget system that holds elected officials accountable to the taxpayer,” said Booker Stallworth, EFF’s Communication Director. “This state needs comprehensive, independent performance audits and EFF members want legislators and candidates to get that message loud and clear.” ### Additional information:
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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..." |
