(Guest writer: TIMMYYY!!!)January 14, 2009To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to all media outlets -- reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and others in newspapers, radio, and TV -- House & Senate members, and the Governor)From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, Lower Property Taxes Initiative co-sponsors, ph: 425-493-9127, email: tim_eyman@comcast.netRE: Reckless disregard for the voters and project costs illustrate need for our latest initiative Politicians are showing zero respect for the voters and absolutely no fiscal restraint regarding the proposed Big Dig Tunnel (the Alaska Way Viaduct). And don't ever forget: EVERYONE in Washington state is paying for this gargantuan boondoggle (because it's a state highway). As the Seattle Times reported: In February 2007, Gov. Christine Gregoire dismissed the idea of replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel. A few weeks later, Seattle voters overwhelming rejected a tunnel proposal. But now a combination of politics and new information apparently have pushed the tunnel back to the forefront. As the Seattle Times asks and answers: If the state has $2.8 billion, where would the money come from to pay the total project cost of $4.25 billion? From you. Beyond that, there were few details Monday. Another question, another answer: Everyone knows about Boston's ultra-expensive "Big Dig." Will there be cost overruns here? Tunneling is generally the most expensive form of highway construction. Less than 1 percent of engineering is done here, and some soil in the tunnel route hasn't even been sampled. Industry practice is to distrust estimates until a megaproject is at least 30 percent designed. Queen Christine, King Sims, and Knight Nickels are an embarrassment. None of them is showing any sympathy for the average taxpayer who is currently buried under our state's enormous tax burden and tough economy. None of them has even an ounce of compassion for struggling working families and fixed-income senior citizens who simply can't afford any more. Their reckless disregard for the additional tax burden this mega-uber-project will put on our state's tapped-out citizenry is maddening. But they are providing a perfect illustration why our initiative for 2009 is so critically necessary. This year's initiative puts a solid cap on taxes and requires any excess revenue collected above this cap to go toward reducing property taxes. The reason it's needed is because politicians have repeatedly shown absolutely no fiscal restraint. No where is that more apparent than here. Among the options for the Alaska Way Viaduct, they chose the most expensive approach - the diamond-studded platinum option - the one most likely to have radically higher cost overruns. And we're being forced to pay all these extra BILLIONS so that Seattle can have a pretty park. Even Frank Chopp, the Legislature's mega-liberal Speaker of the House from Seattle, recognizes the idiocy: A tunnel is the most expensive option, particularly since this proposal is significantly longer than the previous tunnel options. There is a real possibility for cost overruns. This plan already requires at least $1.8 billion in additional taxes from Seattle and King County residents. Will they also be on the hook for the overruns? (Boston's "Big Dig" was estimated to cost $4 billion - it ended up costing many billions more) ... voters rejected a similar tunnel option by 70% - is this option going to be more acceptable to the people? And just to pour salt in the wound, they're hell-bent to unilaterally impose all these ADDITIONAL BILLIONS in higher taxes, higher fees, and new tolls WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. They want to take away our $30 tabs WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. They want to dismiss and disregard and overturn all the laws currently on the books that REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL so they can cheat and impose their mega-tax hikes WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. Politicians only need to look in the mirror to learn why our tax capping initiative is so critically necessary. Their disrespect for the voters is like gasoline thrown on our initiative's fire. They just don't get it. All of us need to take our anger, our frustration, our fury, and our contempt for Gregoire / Sims / Nickels and channel it all into a productive, effective counter-attack. Don't get mad, get even. We must focus all of our time, effort, and resources to get this year's initiative on the ballot. Thanks to Tim's $50,000 loan (please donate to the campaign so you can help pay that off and fund the all-important signature drive), we have enough start-up money to mail out tens of thousands of letters to our supporters throughout the state and pay for the brilliant attorneys that drafted the initiative. But we need everyone's help to raise the funds necessary to fund the initiative's signature drive. We need your financial commitment RIGHT NOW. Please fill out the form below and send us a donation of $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more (there are no limits on the amount that can be given) to our offices in Spokane. Or, you can do a SECURE online donation by going to our website: http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com -- we accept VISA AND MASTERCARD and PAYPAL. Either way, please send in your most generous donation RIGHT NOW. FULL STEAM AHEAD!Regards, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, Lower Property Taxes Initiative co-sponsors, ph: 425-493-9127, email: tim_eyman@comcast.net, http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com (go to our website to do a SECURE donation by VISA/Mastercard/PayPal or print out the form below, fill it out, and return it with a check or money order or credit card information).Lower Property Taxes Initiative . PO Box 18250 . Spokane . WA . 99228 . PH: 425-493-8707 . FAX: 425-493-1027 . http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com . email: jakatak@comcast.net
