April 9th, 2003

Fundraising Appeal

The campaign to get the Taxpayers Fiscal Reform Act passed moves forward.

Contact: Steve Zemke

206-999-6095

stevezemke (at) msn (dot) com

Campaign Update – Initiative 853 - Taxpayers Fiscal Reform Act

Dear Friends,

It is a moment of truth. Initiative 853 – the Taxpayers Fiscal Reform Act will be ready to print within a week once we receive the ballot title. Initiative 853 was drafted as an alternative to Eyman’s Initiative 807. I-853 would require majority votes on revenue bills like the state constitution requires, unlike Eyman’s 2/3 supermajority vote requirement.

Initiative 853 is a positive alternative to Eyman’s Initiative 807. Eyman is already collecting signatures on I-807 to get on the ballot. Eyman is asking his supporters to give contributions to pay people to get signatures for $1.00 each. Eyman tells the legislature that it must not comply with the Washington State Constitution but has to get 2/3 votes to pass revenue measures. Just one example of the problems passage of I-807 will cause is that none of the over $27 billion now given out every two years in special interest tax breaks can be considered for repeal unless they get a 2/3 vote of the legislature. Only 17 Washinton State Senators are needed to block consideration. What chance is there that any outdated tax exemptions that no longer serve a public need will get repealed under I-807?

Our state currently faces a budget shortfall of $2.6 billion. Meanwhile every 2 years the state loses 10 times that amount as some $27 billion in potential state revenues are given back as special interest tax exemptions. Exemptions like no sales tax collected on gold and silver bullion sales and tax breaks for Christmas tree farmers and fuel tax exemptions for people who sell yachts. Some of these exemptions date back 70 years to the Great Depression.

Initiative 853 demands more accountability from state government by requiring that the state adopt a set of budget goals that prioritize state needs and services and that both expenditures and tax exemptions be ranked as either high, medium or low priority in meeting these goals. It sets up a citizens review commission to critically examine all tax exemptions. Exemptions will be considered for repeal. I-853 will bring fiscal reform to state spending. It tells the legislature that they must comply with the Washington State Constitution provision in Article II, Section 22 and vote by majority votes to pass any revenue measures. Initiative 853 is about reforming how state government spends our tax dollars.

Eyman’s anti-government I-807 would only put more money into the pockets of the wealthy and would do nothing to address the critical problems our state faces like meeting the needs of our children for good schools or adequate health care or any of the other programs proposed to be cut under the current budget. Is this the future we want for our state?

We can choose a better future than the Eyman “No government is the best government” approach which is blind to our state’s real needs. Help us get Initiative 853 – the Taxpayers Fiscal Reform Act on the ballot and work for a better future.

We need $2500 to print up a first run of 25,000 petitions for Initiative 853. We need additional funds to mail petitions. First class stamps cost 37 cents each. We do not have enough money in hand. We need your help now to keep on schedule! Time is short. If we can get the support we need from you and enough others now we can move forward with starting to collect the 198,000 valid signatures needed by July 3rd, 2003 to get onto the November ballot.

Log onto our website at www.MajorityRules.info to get the latest on the campaign and to compare the texts of the two initiatives. Sign up as a volunteer and to get petitions. Send us a check for $25, $50, $100, $500, or $1000 today! You can also contribute on line using PayPal. Be as generous as you can. We have pressing needs for the funds you send us. Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,

Steve Zemke - Campaign Director

Taxpayers for Washington’s Future!

Go To:

Paid for by MajorityRules.org 2131 N 132nd ST, Seattle, WA 98133