BY TIM EYMAN
For the Reporter

We’ve been engaged in a 17 year tug-of-war over taxes in Washington.

For nearly two decades, we’ve utilized the people’s initiative process to help taxpayers communicate with politicians about their opposition to higher taxes and fees. The voters have consistently supported our initiatives and the impact from our ballot box victories is undeniable and quantifiable:

Our $30 car tab initiatives in 1999 and 2002 were approved by voters and have directly saved taxpayers $20.95 billion so far.

In 2001, voters approved our 1 percent property tax cap initiative that’s still the law today. Directly, it’s saved taxpayers more than $11 billion so far.

Then there’s our numerous initiatives requiring two-thirds legislative approval or voter approval for tax increases:

After voters approved our Initiative 960 in 2007, the Legislature didn’t raise a single tax in 2008 and 2009.

After voters approved our Initiative 1053 in 2010, there weren’t any tax increases in 2011 and 2012.

After voters approved our Initiative 1185 in 2012, there weren’t any tax hikes in 2013 and 2014. Amazingly, during that high turnout presidential year, I-1185 passed in all 39 counties and got more votes than any initiative in state history.

But a few months after I-1185 passed, the state Supreme Court told us we needed to pursue a constitutional amendment. We tried in 2013 and 2014 and finally in 2015, we qualified I-1366. It was our boldest initiative by far. It asked the voters: do you support reducing sales taxes $1 billion per year unless the legislature lets the voters vote on a two-thirds-for-taxes constitutional amendment? Because it was so in-your-face, it got an unprecedented level of opposition. The entire media establishment went bonkers. Opponents, amplified by their allies in the media, described I-1366 as blackmail and coercion, so it was made clear that our initiative was intended to force the Legislature to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

And that’s what makes its approval by voters so extraordinary. The fact that voters validated such an aggressive initiative shows you how adamantly the voters supported it. It passed in almost all legislative districts outside Seattle, including the 47th.

How did taxpayers benefit from the passage of I-1366? First, the Legislature didn’t raise a single tax this year. That alone is a huge accomplishment. Second, in response to the voters’ clear mandate, our legislative allies like Sen. Pam Roach, R-Sumner, forced floor votes on a two-thirds-for-taxes constitutional amendment. Every single Republican voted to let the people vote but not a single Democrat joined them. Every House and Senate Democrat ignored their constituents’ wishes and refused to let the people vote (Reps. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, and Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, for example).

Thanks to I-1366, those floor votes have become a defining campaign issue in this year’s elections and will help voters determine, which party controls the House and Senate next year.

All of us are obviously disappointed the Supreme Court ignored the Attorney General’s persuasive defense of our initiative and vetoed I-1366. The AG argued the people had every right to push for a vote on a two-thirds-for-taxes constitutional amendment.

If you agree with the AG, then vote against Justices Charles Wiggins, Mary Yu and Barbara Madsen this November. As for us, we will learn from the experience, adapt and persevere.

It’s amazing how successful we’ve been protecting taxpayers, especially when you consider how much of the political, judicial and media establishment is against us. Our success comes from our persistence. We will keep trying.

Tim Eyman is longtime political activist who lives in Mukilteo with his wife and three kids. He’s a co-sponsor of “We Love Our Cars” I-869. He can be reached at 425-493-9127, tim_eyman@comcast.net, or www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com.