Does the Seattle Times want us to live in California?

[foxfeet]

Initiative 1053 would require supermajority to raise taxes — once more with feeling


The Seattle Times editorial board supports Initiative 1053, which says it shall take two-thirds of both houses of the Washington Legislature, plus the governor's signature, to raise taxes, or else a simple majority of both houses plus a vote of the people.



INITIATIVE 1053, which would require a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature on any bill to raise taxes, or a majority vote of the public, will be on the November ballot. Its signatures have been validated, and The Seattle Times supports it. The people have supported a two-thirds requirement three times already, and the Legislature has at various times set it aside. We believe the people will support it again.

The argument against it is that two-thirds is undemocratic. This is a well-meaning thought, but most of those who express it are not realistic enough, or maybe not cynical enough, about how laws are made.

Politicians are often people of large ego. They respond to people who seek them out, who plead with them, who flatter them and who contribute money to them. And those people most often want the state to spend money.

You could see it Monday night in the public meeting in Tacoma of Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget advisory committee. The meeting was supposed to be for the public to present ideas to the governor, and to the committee, on how the state might close a deficit. More than three-quarters of the speakers spent their time appealing to the governor not to cut programs.

More at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2012415318_edit22initiative1053.html

[KT2000]

1. could not believe they did that

another ST columnist got it right - it is minority rule!

Why doesn't Eyman just move to CA and quit trying to destroy this state.

[foxfeet]

2. Their editorial board has been ramping up the war on public employees.

The Blethens apparently think all public employees should work for slave wages and no benefits.

[demigoddess]

3. short answer YES.

anything to slow down progress or our ability to control or regulate the excesses of big business etc.