Here in Washington our general election ballots will be arriving within the next few days. It is proving to be a very interesting election in more ways than one, and likely the most important election I've ever seen.

Its importance stems not from the candidates, nor the possible change in control within our federal and state legislative branches, but here in Washington because of the initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendments we will all be voting upon.

By any measure our legislature performed horribly earlier this year. Indeed when additional budget action was needed last month our Governor did not feel confident enough in the legislature to actually call them back into session to take that action. This despite the fact that the legislative branch is wholly controlled by her own party. She found a way to circumvent the normal process and took decisive action on her own.

Our legislature dithered and dallied, putting off the most important decisions to the last minute, and as a result did not finish its work on time, adding additional costs to the taxpayers for every extra day they were in session. During those final days, they failed to meaningfully cut the budget, failed to make even the most modest reforms of state government, and raised taxes that directly targeted the poor. It was an utter failure.

Luckily here in Washington we have the initiative process, which allows us as the voters to step directly into the legislative role. To take over the functions of the legislature if you will. Due to the abject failures of our legislature, we have a large number of ballot measures this year.

The fate of these measures will either serve to get our economy rolling again, or serve to further degrade it. They will either expand the freedoms we enjoy, or curtail those freedoms. I hope that all of my readers in Washington will vote, and will vote well.

My thoughts on each of the statewide measures are below:

Initiative 1053

This initiative would restate long standing Washington law that requires a two/thirds majority of the legislature to increase taxes. The people have overwhelmingly supported this idea in past elections, but the legislature continually overturns their will, so the initiative must be passed again from time to time.

This session, the legislature levied a tax specifically on the poor by increasing taxes on cheap beer, but leaving taxes at the old rates on expensive beer. Can you guess which beer our legislators are most likely to drink? Do you think it moral to levy higher taxes on the beer enjoyed by the poor than the beer enjoyed by the rich? This nonsense would not have passed had the legislature not first done away with the two/thirds majority requirement.

Vote Yes on Initiative 1053

Initiative 1082

This initiative would allow employers to purchase industrial compensation insurance from any insurance company approved to offer it in our state by the Insurance Commissioner.

Currently an employer can only purchase this insurance from the state monopoly. This monopoly has increased rates on a massive scale over the past few years, and is projecting even larger rate increases far into the future. A lack of any competition in our state's industrial insurance market leads to zero incentive to keep our rates low, and indeed comparing us to Oregon our rates have increased 53% since the year 2000, and Oregon's rates with a competitive market have seen no increase over that time.

46 states allow a competitive industrial insurance market, and Washington should as well.

Vote Yes on Initiative 1082

Initiative 1098

I've written extensively about this initiative in a previous post, so will not restate what I've already said here.

Initiative 1098 would create an Income Tax in Washington State. It is being marketed as a tax that only the rich will have to pay, but that assurance is only valid for two years. Experience and simple common sense tells us that if this initiative passes we will see income taxes levied on all Washingtonians within a few short years. The legislature will be able to expand the tax with no more than a simple majority vote, and they will certainly do so.

This initiative would result in a 2 billion dollar tax increase on top of the 800 million dollar tax increases already imposed this year. Our economy desperately needs new investment, not almost 3 billion dollars in new taxes.

The Seattle Times, Tacoma News Tribune, Wall Street Journal, and other papers have already documented how badly this proposal will harm our state's economy, if you are in doubt about your vote, get the facts.

Vote No on Initiative 1098

Initiative 1100

Initiative 1100 would simply get our state government out of the liquor business. It would close state liquor stores and allow a private market to grow in their place. That private market would result in competition, which in turn would result in lower prices, better selection, and superior customer service.

Our state government is just that, a government, not a business. It has no expertise in operating a business, and cannot do so efficiently. Let's get the state out of the liquor business.

Vote Yes on Initiative 1100

Initiative 1105

Initiative 1105 is a sneaky little initiative. It is masquerading as an initiative that would get the state out of the liquor business just like I-1100, and it would.

That isn't all it would do though. I-1105 would create a monopolistic distribution system that would result in a few massive companies controlling all the distribution of spirits in our state. It would replace the state monopoly, with private monopolies. It's a dirty bill, proposed and supported by those who currently have near monopoly status in the common beer distribution market.

The largest problem with having both I-1100 and I-1105 on the ballot is that if they both pass, the laws will be in conflict with each other. As a result, the legislature would be given a free hand to make all the decisions. It is therefore important that we vote yes on 1100 and no on 1105, I think everyone agrees that the legislature is the very last body that should be making this decision.

Vote No on Initiative 1105

Initiative 1107

As mentioned previously, the legislature passed massive new taxes earlier this year, many of them targeted directly on the poor, and all of them oddly implemented. None of these taxes increases should have passed, and I-1107 would repeal many of them.

It would end the new taxes paid on candy that does not contain flour. (Almond Rocha is taxed, Ferro Roche is not)

It would end the tax increases imposed on bottled water.

End the tax increases imposed on pop and other beverages with carbonation.

It would end the tax increases imposed on some foods, depending upon their ingredients. Nalley's Chili for example.

These taxes were all unnecessary, absurd, and in the case of food, immoral. They should be repealed.

Vote Yes on Initiative 1107

Referendum 52

Referendum 52 would direct the state to borrow massive amounts of money through the bond market and spend that money in attempts to make our schools more energy efficient.

Borrowed money must be paid back. The state currently faces a budget deficit in excess of three billion dollars. There is no money available to make the payments if Referendum 52 passes. That means that taxes will have to be raised in order to pay off the bondholders.

Referendum 52 would also cause the state to borrow in excess of its constitutional debt limit, and will risk a downgrade in our bond ratings, resulting in higher borrowing costs over time.

Vote to Reject Referendum 52

Senate Joint Resolution 8225

SJR 8225 would change the way our state calculates the rate of interest we project we will have to pay when considering the borrowing of money.

In short, currently the state constitution prevents the state from borrowing more money than it can reasonably expect to be able to pay back. This resolution would change the way that limit is calculated, and would allow the state to borrow even more money than it does now.

Increased debt now directly translates to increased taxes later. We should not amend our constitution so that the legislature can borrow a few more bucks.

Vote to Reject Senate Joint Resolution 8225

Engrossed Substitute House Joint Resolution 4220

ESHJR 4220 proposes to change our state constitution to allow more people to be denied bail before they have been convicted of a crime.

It was passed in a mad response to a local tragedy, but isolated incidents do not make for good law. Our current bail system has served Washington State well since our very founding, balancing protection of the public with the presumption of innocence that is fundamental to our understanding of freedom and the rule of law.

ESHJR 4220 would erode the presumption of innocence, a bedrock principal of our nation, and it should be rejected.

Vote to Reject Engrossed Substitute House Joint Resolution 4229

In previous years I have given my endorsement to candidates here as well. I will not be doing that this year with the exception of one Judicial race because the ballot measures we are facing will have a much greater impact than any candidate could ever have.