| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009 4:51 am |
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Local News 
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I-1033 a costly contest Opponents have raised $3.46 million to fight the anti-tax measure, while the Referendum 71 campaign is less expensive. OLYMPIA — Opponents of Initiative 1033 are raising and spending money at a pace that will make it one of the most expensive campaigns ever run against a statewide ballot measure.Foes of Tim Eyman’s latest anti-tax ballot offering had raked in $3.46 million by Friday, nearly six times more than what the Mukilteo initiative promoter has collected. If opponents spend all they have, it will be the fifth largest sum spent to try to defeat an initiative in state history. By comparison, the electoral contest on Referendum 71, which would increase the rights and benefits of state-registered domestic partners, is a less costly battle. The Approve 71 campaign, whose goal is preserving the latest expansion of the state’s domestic partnership law, has raised $2 million. On the other side, a trio of groups urging voters to reject the measure had amassed nearly $550,000. In the contest on Initiative 1033, opponents are pouring most of the cash into the blitz of television ads that have aired nonstop since the state’s roughly 3 million registered voters received their ballots. If approved, the measure would limit the amount of revenue from sales, property and business taxes that cities, counties and the state can collect each year. Any money received above the limit must be returned to those paying property taxes; those who do not pay this tax will not receive any money. Unions representing teachers, public employees and health care workers are mobilized against the initiative and account for nearly a third of the opposition funds. They worry governments now laying off employees and cutting public services because of the recession will be unable to right themselves because of the measure’s fiscal restraints. Topping the list of donors are the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees at $329,000 and the National Education Association at $300,000. “We know that education is going to bear the brunt of 1033 cuts. I think it’s natural to see that teachers have an interest in seeing this not pass,” said Scott Whiteaker, who is a spokesman for the No on 1033 campaign. Spending big can make a difference in statewide elections. Before this year, four of the five most expensive opposition campaigns succeeded in defeating the targeted measure. One of those was Eyman’s 2004 initiative to expand gambling in non-tribal casinos. Eyman, who is not surprised by opponents’ sizable cache, pointed out the largest checks came from the unions’ national headquarters. There are some “very, very powerful people” in Washington, D.C., trying to beat this, he said. He’s raised $670,000 and spent nearly all of it on gathering signatures needed to qualify the initiative for the ballot. Michael Dunmire of Woodinville, his strongest financial backer in recent years, gave $300,000 to the effort. Eyman also took out a $250,000 loan to cover costs. There’s no money now for TV, radio or signs, so the campaign is relying on the common sense of average voters, he said. “The voters are either on our side or they’re not,” Eyman said. Those dueling on Referendum 71 are raising money in very different ways. The measure asks voters to approve or reject the new state law giving same-sex couples registered as domestic partnerships the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. The new law also applies to opposite sex couples in which at least one partner is 62 years or older. For the Approve 71 campaign, the largest donation of $100,000 came from Microsoft but the average contribution is less than $250, spokesman Josh Friedes said. That’s because more than 5,000 individuals have donated, he said. Their funds have paid for a series of television commercials and mailers. For those urging voters to reject the referendum, fundraising from individuals has been difficult. Protect Marriage Washington, the primary opposition group, had raised just under $100,000 with most of it paying for fliers and signs. Its leader, Larry Stickney of Arlington, has said potential donors shied away because they feared harassment once their names became public. Last month, two other groups joined the effort with their own money. The Family Policy Institute of Washington based in Lynnwood put up $200,000 for radio advertising. At the same time, Focus on the Family out of Colorado expended $91,000 for literature and radio ads. (The institute is associated with Focus on the Family though its political action committees are separate.) To see detailed reports on contributions and expenditures, go to www.pdc.wa.gov. Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. About the measures Initiative 1033 The initiative would limit the amount of revenue from sales, property and business taxes that cities, counties and the state can collect each year. Any money received above this limit would be returned to property taxpayers in the form of a rebate. Those who do not pay property tax will not receive any money. The measure limits increases in revenue to the rate of inflation plus population growth. The state Office of Financial Management estimates that rate would average a little less than 5 percent a year through 2015 — though it would differ community to community. By 2015 it is predicted that cities, counties and the state would pay out a combined $9 billion in rebates. Referendum 71 The referendum asks voters if they want to approve or reject a bill passed earlier this year by the Legislature that expands the rights, responsibilities and benefits of state-registered domestic partners, most of whom are same-sex couples. A vote to approve means you support this bill and want it enacted. A vote to reject means you oppose the bill and want it repealed. |
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