I-1053: Yes *Again* to 2/3 Majority for Taxes

Following I-601, R-49, and I-960, the people will again pass a 2/3 majority requirement for the legislature (or by a simple majority refer for a vote of the people) to raise any taxes.

Initiative 1053 will again constrain the Washington State Legislature, for at least 2 years, from simply raising taxes yet again whenever they believe that they yet again don't have enough of our money.

This initiative wouldn't be necessary if the state legislature would stop thwarting the thrice-expressed will of the people to stop using their ever increasing apatite for the voters' money to fund their ever-expanding state budgets; however, it is abundantly clear that this legislature's leadership has a high degree of contempt for the simpleton knuckle-dragging voters in this state (who managed to elect the very same politicians in question) when it comes to the voters' own pocketbooks.

If state politicians had any chutzpah they'd propose a state constitutional amendment to solidify the 2/3 majority (or Referendum) rule. Unfortunately very few in Olympia want to recognize that the people, not the politicians, are supposed to hold the power in this state.

Initiative 1053 may be repetitive, but sometimes it takes repetition for children (or politicians) to get the message.

I've enthusiastically voted Yes on I-1053.

November Ballot

As with the last Primary Election I'll show my ballot picks for this General Election first, then break out each office (as time allows).

My Ballot picks on the issues:

Initiative 1053 (Re-instituting Super-Majority for tax increases): Yes

Initiative 1082 (Partial privatization of Workers Comp insurance): Yes

Initiative 1098 (Establishing a State Income Tax): No (is HELL NO! an option?)

Initiative 1100 (Privatization of liquor sales): Yes

Initiative 1105 (Privatization of liquor sales with state-controlled prices): No

Initiative 1107 (Repeal candy and some grocery taxes): Yes

Referendum 52 (New bonds for public buildings energy efficiency): Rejected

State Constitution Amendment SJR 8225 (Change public debt limits): Rejected

State Constitution Amendment HJR 4220 (Authority to deny bail for some charges): Approved

King County Charter Amendment 1 (Preamble Change): No

King County Charter Amendment 2 (End duplicate reporting requirement): Yes

King County Charter Amendment 3 (Collective Bargaining authority to Sheriff): Yes

King County Proposition 1 (Sales Tax increase): Rejected

My Ballot picks on the people:

United States Senator: Dino Rossi (R)

U.S. Representative (Congressional District 8): (write-in) Reagan Dunn (R)

State Legislative District 41, Senator: Steve Litzow (R)

State Legislative District 41, Representative Position 1: Peter Dunbar (R)

State Legislative District 41, Representative Position 2: Stephen Strader (R)

King County Prosecuting Attorney: (write-in) Bill Sherman (D)

State Supreme Court, Position 1: Jim Johnson

State Supreme Court, Position 5: (write-in) Mark Sidran

State Supreme Court, Position 6: Richard Sanders

State Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, Position 1: (write-in) John Groen

State Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, Position 2: (write-in) Stephen L. Johnson

King County District Court, Southeast, Judge Position 2: Darrell Phillipson

King County District Court, Southeast, Judge Position 6: David Tracy

and if I were in the 9th Congressional District:

U.S. Representative (Congressional District 9): Dick Muri (R)

and if I were in the 47th Legislative District:

State Legislative District 47, Senator: Joe Fain (R)

State Legislative District 47, Representative Position 1: Mark Hargrove (R)

State Legislative District 47, Representative Position 2: Rodrigo Yanez (R)

and if I were still in the 11th Legislative District:

State Legislative District 11, Representative Position 1: Sarah Sanoy-Wright (No Party)

State Legislative District 11, Representative Position 2: John Potter (R)

Specific races to follow...