So you got your ballot in the mail, but you’re not sure who or what to vote for. Are we really voting on six initiatives? Good gravy! That voter’s pamphlet is almost as big as the eight phone books piled up on my porch! How am I supposed to pick a supreme court justice? I didn’t even know we had one of those! Voting here in Washington State can seem like a perilous, time-consuming headache. And it is! Fortunately, the good King Elephant has your back.
If you want the quick and dirty version without long explanations, click here. It’s printable for easy reference!
This year we have a lot of choices that could fundamentally alter the trajectory of our state, including ballot measures that could seriously change the way our state collects revenue. We also have the chance to elect Tea Party-backed state candidates who challenge incumbents by claiming the state is on an out-of-control spending spree and promising to reduce taxes and find efficiencies to maintain some—but perhaps not all—of our favorite state services.
The unfortunate reality is that state programs cost money. Making government more efficient is an admirable endeavor, but there is only so much juice you can squeeze from a lemon before you’re left with—well, a gross lemon. Quite frankly, we have to decide whether we want to cut taxes or maintain state programs. We can’t have it both ways.
THE FEDS
US Senate
Elephant says: Reelect Patty Murray
During the past two elections, politicians have used earmarks as a scapegoat for bloated budgets and out-of-control deficits. Nobody in this state has been more vocal about pork barrel spending than Dino Rossi, who has pledged to put Murray’s Senate seat on a vegetarian diet if he gets elected. The truth is that a lot of stuff we like here in Washington depends on earmarks—from road improvement projects to money for agricultural research and measures to save vital businesses, and few politicians are better at bringing home the bacon that Patty Murray. You can disagree with her stance on social issues, but if you need money, Murray’s your best bet.
She is by far the most powerful politician in the Northwest, and one of the most powerful in the Senate today. If Rossi is elected, not only will we lose out on the money, but Washington’s influence in Congress will suffer. All that grumbling about crazy spending and ads depicting Patty Murray trampling on children are pretty scary, but the fact is Rossi won’t be able to put his money where is mouth is. When he hits D.C., the money will disappear. And once people start complaining that Washington’s roads and bridges are falling apart, Rossi won’t have the sway to fling some of that pork our way.
US Congress, 2nd District
Elephant says: Reelect Rick Larsen
Rick Larsen doesn’t hold the same sway in the House that Murray has in the Senate, but he has heralded some good environmental legislation and established himself as a slightly left-of-center Democrat in a swing district who is able to bring home money for district-specific projects. If our state decides it doesn’t want to shoulder rising costs and revenue shortfalls by adapting our tax system, we are going to depend even more on Federal cash, and Larsen is best positioned to bring some back to the 2nd District.
Koster, on the other hand, embraces the me-first attitude of Tea Partiers by promising to vote against pretty much everything. Don’t expect to see any Federal cash if he gets elected. Koster's hardline social conservative platform is the brainchild of Larry Stickney, who pushed Referendum 71. To put it bluntly, Koster's whole agenda is pretty out-of-touch with most people in the district.
INITIATIVES: The juicy stuff
Initiative 1100 and 1105: liquor’s never been quicker
Elephant says: go with your gut on 1100, vote no on 1105
The Elephant believes the state probably shouldn’t be in the retail liquor business. Both initiatives are flawed, and the state would do well to come up with its own method to get out of the business, but who knows if that will happen.
Costco-backed Initiative 1100 would end the state’s monopoly on liquor sales and allow private retailers to have a go. If this passes, the state will lose out on some money from the markup it pockets from selling liquor, but it will still be able to collect liquor taxes. Undoubtedly, liquor prices will fall once competition allows supermarkets and gas stations to manipulate their markups and negotiate with distributors. The downside is that nearly 1,000 state employees will lose their jobs once the government stores close, and the new rules could give big discount manufacturers an advantage by eliminating price controls.
Costco-backed Initiative 1100 would end the state’s monopoly on liquor sales and allow private retailers to have a go. If this passes, the state will lose out on some money from the markup it pockets from selling liquor, but it will still be able to collect liquor taxes. Undoubtedly, liquor prices will fall once competition allows supermarkets and gas stations to manipulate their markups and negotiate with distributors. The downside is that nearly 1,000 state employees will lose their jobs once the government stores close, and the new rules could give big discount manufacturers an advantage by eliminating price controls.
Initiative 1105 will do much the same thing, except it will eliminate the state liquor tax, the revenue from which goes to cool stuff like health care, education and municipal governments, and force the state to come up with a new liquor tax model. 1105 would also give big distributors a huge advantage by keeping the current distribution controls in place, basically guaranteeing a state liquor cartel by forcing retailers to go through distributors instead of buying directly from manufacturers. Not surprisingly, this initiative has the backing of distributors who stand to make a fortune. If it passes, it would not only mean that the state will lose out on a lot of money, but it would probably stymie competition and variety by putting small distributors at a disadvantage.
Law enforcement and religious groups argue that it will be easier for minors and abusers to get booze if either initiative passes, and they are probably right, but let’s face it—you can already get Steel Reserve and Boone’s just about anywhere.
Initiative 1107: ditch the candy and soda tax
Elephant says: vote no
Our state budget is weird in that it depends on sales tax, and what better way to raise a little revenue than to tax the things that are bad for us? We tax the hell out of stuff that gives us lung cancer and liver damage, so why not tax the stuff that makes us fat and diabetic? We probably shouldn’t be consuming that crap anyway. Besides, that money goes mainly to health care to take care of our fat asses.
Initiative 1053: reinstate two-thirds majority rule for passing taxes
Elephant says: vote no
The Elephant doesn’t understand why we send legislators to Olympia and then turn around and pass laws that make it nearly impossible for them to do their jobs. Nobody likes taxes, and no candidate in the right mind runs on a pro-tax platform, but sometimes taxes need to be adjusted, especially with such an insanely unreliable revenue source like our state sales tax.
Requiring a two-thirds majority means a small minority has the power to restrict the government from passing tax-related legislation. If we want to address our state’s inefficient and regressive tax system, we should give our representatives the ability to do it. If Tim Eyman wants to determine our state’s future, he should run for office. He has that option, and he might just win somewhere. Until then, he should go back to selling kitschy college memorabilia and let the legislature do its job.
Initiative 1098: income tax for rich people
Elephant says: vote yes
If you are reading this, you probably won’t be affected by this tax. If you are, I’m pretty jealous. This tax would only affect individuals making more than $200,000 or families making more than $400,000 and could raise as much as $2 billion a year, which will go to education and health services. Property taxes will also go down if this passes, which is good for everybody.
As I previously mentioned, the state’s sales tax is unpredictable and very regressive. A state income tax on the wealthy will help stabilize revenue and could be a step toward rolling back sales tax and replacing it with a more reliable income tax, which almost every other state has.
Initiative 1082: privatize worker’s compensation
Elephant says: vote no
This initiative would eliminate the state’s nonprofit worker’s compensation insurance and let private insurers take up the cause. Don’t be fooled. The current system works fine; the only reason this is on the ballot is because insurance companies figure they can make a killing by reducing payouts to workers and raising rates.
REFERENDUMS: Are you confused yet?
Referendum 52: bonds for schools
Elephant says: vote yes
This referendum would let the state authorize bonds to build and repair schools to make them more energy efficient. Why not?
Resolution 42 20: more ability for courts to deny bail
Elephant says: vote no
This measure is most likely in response to the recent police shootings in the state. It would give courts more flexibility in denying bail for certain crimes. Judges can already set bail ridiculously high for violent offenders, making it virtually impossible for most people to buy their way out.
Making it easier to deny bail sounds like it could be a slippery slope that could make its way down to less-heinous crimes, and this just seems a bit unnecessary.
Resolution 8225: make borrowing easier
Elephant says: vote yes
Unlike the federal government, the state legislature must balance its budget. The state can borrow a little money to help pay for certain capital projects, like school improvements (if Referendum 52 passes). Without going into great detail, this initiative would update the state constitution to change the way the legislature calculates how much it can borrow.
BELLINGHAM PROPOSITIONS: There’s only one!
Proposition 1: Multi-modal transportation tax.
Elephant says: vote yes
WTA recently cancelled Sunday bus service due to a lousy budget. City voters passed a levy last April to give WTA some much-needed cash, but the county as a whole rejected it. This proposition would add a .2-cent sales tax to fund WTA and road improvement projects.
If you like buses and bike lanes, or know someone who does, you should vote yes.
JUDGES
Why do we elect judges in the state? I think it’s crazy. I’ll let you do your own research on this one.
STATE LEGISLATURE: Almost there!
42nd District: Position 1
Elephant says: Elect Al Jensen
Al Jensen bills himself as a centrist Democrat—bent on balancing the budget by finding sensible solutions that will leave essential services intact without bankrupting the state. He has spent 30 years working in law enforcement, seeing how state services operate and suffer from under funding from—literally—the street level. His platform is by no means radical, and frankly we don’t need any funny business.
Meanwhile, Jason Overstreet seems to be pushing a kinder, gentler form of Tea Party sensibilities—citing a desire to maintain certain state institutions like Basic Health and education, but he relies on magical “efficiency” measures to squeeze performance out of state programs while lowering taxes. To be sure, the state could use a serious efficiency audit, but Overstreet’s plan will mean rolling back essential services and reducing state revenue. He spent time on the Blaine City Council when the city saw some small-business growth and believes the private sector will somehow solve all of our problems if we just let it. That's nice, but governing a border town that relies heavily on the inflow of Canadian currency isn’t the same as governing a state.
42nd District: Position 2
Elephant says: Reelect Kelli Linville
The 42nd District is one of those magical places where moderates tend to have a difficult time finding their voice. With Bellingham leftists and county Right-wingers getting into spitting matches on The Bellingham Herald website and in the county council chambers, it’s no wonder the middle-of-the-roaders feel so out of place.
Fortunately, we have moderate Democrat Kelli Linville to talk some sense on our behalf. Not only does Linville have a savvy, centrist governing style, but she also chairs the House Appropriations Committee, which works on really important stuff like how to balance the budget. Like losing Patty Murray in the Senate, losing Kelli Linville would mean losing a powerful voice in the legislature.
42nd District: Senate
Elephant says: Elect Pat Jerns
I don’t enough know that much about Pat Jerns. He talks a lot about cooperations, but doesn't everybody? The one thing he does get right is calling Doug Ericksen one of the most polarizing figures in the legislature.
Ericksen has contributed right next to nothing to the state government in the past decade, meanwhile blowing a lot of steam. His platform is the same anti-tax, empower businesses la-dee-da we've been listening to for years. This time around, he has the backing of the local Tea Party—odd, considering they are so anti-establishment, and he is so the establishment, having served six terms in the house.
Ericksen has contributed right next to nothing to the state government in the past decade, meanwhile blowing a lot of steam. His platform is the same anti-tax, empower businesses la-dee-da we've been listening to for years. This time around, he has the backing of the local Tea Party—odd, considering they are so anti-establishment, and he is so the establishment, having served six terms in the house.
IN CONCLUSION
I’m not a conspiracy theorist, and I do not think the Tea Party is out to hijack our government and turn America into crazyland. I think a lot of voter anger is misguided, and the Tea Party naïvely thinks its policies and platform it can save us from our financial problems and put people back to work by rolling back taxes. The reality is that lowering taxes means many of our much-loved programs will suffer in the process.
We really don’t have it bad here in Washington. Our tax system is kind of lame and regressive but, financially, we are doing OK compared to most other states. Voting in angry loons who want to dismantle our generally functional revenue system and passing ill-conceived ballot measures that restrict our lawmakers’ ability to do their jobs puts us in jeopardy of losing our position as a generally financially healthy state. Just look south to California if you don’t believe me.
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