Only if interested...

[Go Aweigh2452]

There is a move a foot to try to repeal the "emergency" gas tax... I say "Emergency" because under that clause the public does not have the option to vote for or against it. Therefore a group of people got together and is gathering signatures (and donations) to get an initiative past that rolls back the tax.

My concern is that the legislature says it will cost +$2 billion to replace the Viaduct and billions more for the floating bridges & interstate 405 but has no plan to look at... so how do they figure out a cost for a project that has no plan???

http://www.nonewgastax.com/

Democrats who control the Washington Legislature and governor's office say the tax increases are reasonable. Republicans say they went too far. State spending increases by 12 percent. A no-new-taxes budget would have raised spending by seven percent.

[heymagic]

I signed up ! A couple of things here **** me off, I never have used the Alaska Way Viaduct that I'm aware of. I've been over the floating bridge once, I made a wrong turn and next thing I was there. The local infrastucture should pay for those repairs. Look at the collective wealth on the other side of the bridge. make it a toll bridge and ad the rest onto their property taxes !

I-5 I'm ok with spreading around, but non-state roadways need to be funded with other means. Then there are the issues with a population voting something down and the elected government doing it anyway.

[Go Aweigh2452]

232,714 Signatures for I-912 (No New Gas Tax)

Submitted Today (6 July)

[SomeSailor]

I signed it last week. I hope others will be able to find a copy and get their name on it.

[Go Aweigh2452]

7 July by end of day all signatures must be turned in. They hope to get an additional 25-40K signatures to be on the safe side...

[Seapuppy]

I signed up last week and feel that the democratic governor is out of control....they are signing tax increases as fast as her little fingers can move........ :evil:

[bradvo]

I was not happy about the tax increase and did sign the petition. kinda have a few thought s here.
I hate the traffic in the region, it is not just a Seattle thing- I have to drive 167 and it is worse then or as bad as I have ever seen it.
I do see progress on hwy 18 from 167 to I-5, there is some new roads going in to help move traffic off the smaller urban cities to the hwys.
Some how some way more improvements are needed for this region. I will be moving out of this traffic dead zone when I retire but, the state not only has to look for relief now , but what about 30 to 50 years from now when the population is only going to increase.
When gas begins to hit European prices I think people will drive less and count more on mass transit-maybe not in our lifetime but down the road something has to be there. I do not see allot of start up jobs paying what they used to in the manufacturing sectors. So the population will need lower cost transportation. Problem with this state is to many liberals- At some point whether we like it or not a good plan will have to come forth and it will have to be shoved down our throats and we will need to accept the change and get the ball rolling.

[SomeSailor]

I'm all for the change... and I even agree we need the improvements. What I don't see is how we should have to put a full share on the backs of everyone in areas outside King County. I think those who use those roads should bear a greater burden in paying for the upgrades. I don't see anything in place to replace the aging US2 trestle, or provide light rail through Everett or Monroe or Marysville to Boeing.

It's an across the board tax... that isn't going to be used equitably across the state.

[3788sam]

I really feel for our population who lives on the East side. They get to pay the additional taxes and get nothing in return in their area.

[Randygh]

Ken--Actually you're incorrect regarding eastsiders not getting much for the extra tax dollars. With eastern Washington's sparse population density, wetsiders actually subsidize our road expenses. For every dollar of fuel tax paid by Douglas county residents, such as me, we receive about a buck and a half return. For Okanogan residents they get more like a $1:$3 return.

The thing about the current 9 cent increase in gas tax that bothers me was something I read regarding the Alaska Way viaduct and other King County road improvements. Something like 20% of the revenue will be spent on projects used by 10% of the population. That sounds like Okanogan county x 10,000%.

[3788sam]

Thanks for the info Randy!
When I posted above I was thinking of the new floating bridge and viaduct projects and how few if any, east side residents tires would ever touch them.

[Go Aweigh2452]

WE MADE HISTORY!



Thanks to more than 15,000 volunteers from every part of Washington state, we did what the so-called experts said was impossible:



We qualified Initiative 912 in just 30 days.

Using only volunteer signature gatherers, we collected and turned in 420,518 signatures to the Secretary of State. That number guarantees that I-912 will be on the November ballot.

And we get the chance to vote on the legislature's massive Gas Tax Hike (just like we should have in the first place).

Without you, we could not have succeeded.

Thank you for being part of the No New Gas Tax Team.

Paid for by NoNewGasTax.com * 218 Main Street, #412 * Kirkland, WA 98033

[SomeSailor]

As in all good things... the citizens will prevail eventually.

Can't wait to see that one bite the dust in November. Now... I wonder if they can get an injunction until then? Or what happens to the money gathered between now and then if it's overturned? hmmm...

I may have to register Democratic this time just so I can vote 4 or 5 times against this great idea. :)

[3788sam]

I may have to register Democratic this time just so I can vote 4 or 5 times against this great idea.

Only in WA can we laugh about that! :lol:

[Seapuppy]

are you registering as deceased or imprisoned.????? :shock:

:argh arrr

[Go Aweigh2452]

probably deceased, imprisoned, homeless and living in King Co. with three different addresses... registered as first initial, last name, full first and last name, nick name first name and last name. that should work for at least 24 absentee ballots...