Ken Schram: Handcuffing the legislature

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Summary

Feeding off people's frustrations with state lawmakers who've not adequately tackled the task of downsizing government bureaucracy, Tim Eyman is pitting folks against the system they want reformed.

Story Published: Oct 18, 2010 at 10:05 AM PDT

Story Updated: Oct 18, 2010 at 6:55 PM PDT

Tim Eyman

We allow the government to tax us because we expect the government to provide programs and services that we need and want.

But give people the sense that they're being overtaxed and under served and all hell is likely to break loose.

And that brings us to Initiative 1053.

This is Tim Eyman's "it's deja vu all over again" effort to require a two-thirds vote of the legislature when it comes to a tax increase.

Feeding off people's frustrations with state lawmakers who've not adequately tackled the task of downsizing government bureaucracy, Eyman's pitting folks against the system they want reformed.

Only problem is that handcuffing the legislature has a way of coming back to bite us in the butt.

If you want gridlock, vote yes on I-1053.

If you want to give a mere 17 lawmakers the ability to stifle what could easily be in the best interest of the people of this state, vote yes on I-1053.

If you want to impede economic growth, protect special tax breaks for big corporations, put children's programs and education at further risk, then jump right in and vote yes on I-1053.

But if you're not interested in buying into the "cut off your nose to spite your face" charge led by Tim Eyman, then by all means be sensible.

Vote "no" on initiative 1053.

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