Progressive Voters Guide

Initiative-1366 from Tim Eyman orders the legislature to send a constitutional amendment to the voters next year requiring a two-thirds supermajority vote to close tax loopholes or raise revenue. If legislators refuse, Eyman’s initiative would create an $8 billion hole in our state budget over the next six years by cutting the sales tax by a full 1 percent.

The timing for I-1366 is very bad. Our state is being fined $100,000 a day for failing to fully fund education, yet Eyman’s initiative would make it nearly impossible to close wasteful corporate tax loopholes or fix our state’s upside down tax system. Not surprisingly, Initiative 1366’s largest donors are big developers and Wall Street interests who have given Eyman hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect their special tax loopholes.

Eyman proposed nearly the exact same initiative last year and it was broadly criticized. The Spokane Spokesman-Review referred to his previous effort as Eyman’s “worst ever” idea. Others called this initiative “extortion” (Walla Walla Union Bulletin) and “disingenuous” (Everett Herald), saying it is simply a ploy to keep Eyman’s initiative promotion business up and running.

We oppose I-1366 because it would prevent us from fixing our state’s upside down tax system or fully funding our kids’ schools. Join this broad coalition listed below and vote NO on I-1366.

Initiative 1401 seeks to help save endangered animals from extinction by making the selling, purchasing, trading, or distributing of animals threatened with extinction punishable by law. From African Elephants to the Javan Tiger, animals are disappearing from our planet at an alarming rate. Passing Initiative 1401 means that our last remaining elephants, rhinos, tigers, lions, cheetahs, leopards, pangolins, marine turtles, sharks, and rays will at least be somewhat protected from the illegal animal trade here in our home state.

Help save animals facing extinction: vote YES on Initiative 1401.

Legislators voted nearly unanimously for new oil train safety regulations, including directing some oil taxes to help pay for oil-train spill response. Senate Bill 1449 passed the legislature 141 to 1 with 5 excused. Thanks to a Tim Eyman initiative, the state legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a non-binding advisory vote. Vote to "maintain" this measure.

A bipartisan majority of legislators came together earlier this year to clarify that the marijuana excise tax should also apply to medical marijuana sales. There are a number of progressives who disagree with this tax, but unfortunately, the time to lobby against it was during the 2014 legislative session. Senate Bill 5052 passed the legislature 101 to 44 with 2 excused. Per Eyman’s initiative, the state legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a non-binding advisory vote. Even if 100 percent of voters rejected this advisory measure, it would remain a tax, as Eyman's advisory votes are purely intended to push an anti-tax message. Vote to "maintain" this measure, and push back against Eyman's anti-tax message.

A broad majority of legislators voted for a comprehensive transportation bill to improve state and local roads, transit, bike paths, and pedestrian walkways. The package was funded with a small increase in the gas tax. Senate Bill 5987 passed the legislature 91 to 51 with 5 excused. While we were not thrilled with some aspects of the final transportation package, we still recommend a non-binding vote to "maintain" this measure. Per Eyman’s initiative, the state legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a non-binding advisory vote. Vote to “maintain” this measure.

A large majority of legislators voted to close $150 million in unnecessary tax loopholes in order to generate revenue for education funding. This legislation, Senate Bill 6138, passed the legislature 95 to 48 with 4 excused. Per Eyman’s initiative, the state legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a non-binding advisory vote. Vote to "maintain" this important measure.