I-747 opponents prepare to launch TV, radio campaign

By Paul Queary

Associated Press

OLYMPIA — With three weeks until Election Day, tax rebel Tim Eyman’s fund-raising machine has slowed, while a massive cash infusion has opponents of Initiative 747 ready to mount a media blitz.

Eyman’s group, Permanent Offense, took in only $35,281 between Sept. 1 and Oct. 9, according to a report filed with the Public Disclosure Commission. The group has raised $539,571 since the beginning of the year — mostly from hundreds of small donors — but spent nearly all of it to get Initiative 747 on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The No On 747 campaign, meanwhile, continued to lean on its financial foundation — public employee unions whose members stand to lose if the property tax limitation measure passes.

The campaign took in $355,500 during the same period, most of it in the form of a single $190,000 check from the Washington State Council of County and City Employees. The campaign also took in $25,000 from Boeing, despite the company’s drastic recent cutbacks.

The money leaves the campaign ready to start a television and radio campaign focusing on firefighters and other emergency services.

"Once people make the connection between this initiative and the public safety cuts that will happen, especially at local fire districts, they will vote against it," said Christian Sinderman, a spokesman for the "No" campaign.

I-747 would limit the growth of property tax levies to 1 percent unless voters approved a greater increase. Eyman contends the limit is necessary to rein in rampant tax increases. Opponents argue the limit wouldn’t let local governments even keep up with inflation, endangering core services such as firefighting, road maintenance and libraries.

With limited resources, Eyman is turning to the staple of his political operations — direct mail.

"As fast as it comes in, it gets spent," Eyman said. "We’re spending our dollars on direct mail; 105,000 pro-747 letters are going out in the next day or so."

About 55 percent of voters surveyed in recent polls said they plan to support Eyman’s initiative. That’s about the same level of support enjoyed by Initiative 722 and Initiative 695, two earlier Eyman-sponsored tax relief measures approved by voters but scrapped by the courts.

At about 50 cents per letter, Eyman figures the direct mail is the most cost-effective way to reach voters. And there’s an added bonus — the money doesn’t go to the newspapers and television stations that have repeatedly editorialized against his initiatives.

"I love making the post office rich," Eyman said. "Do I want to reward the media conglomerates in Washington? Not really. Do I want to enrich the newspapers that have blasted us constantly? Well, no."

Thus far, the campaign on I-747 has been low key, with representatives of both sides mostly traveling the state courting groups and newspaper editorial boards for endorsements. This week will likely mark a turning point, with television commercials debuting, a high-profile debate in Seattle and a big-money fund-raiser planned for the "No" campaign on Thursday.

The fund-raiser features former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, former Secretary of State Ralph Munro and former Gov. Dan Evans, all Republicans. Sinderman hopes the event will help counter the Washington Republican Party’s endorsement of the initiative.

"A bunch of well-known Republican leaders find this initiative troubling and share the concern that this will have a huge impact on public safety," Sinderman said.

Eyman scoffed, dismissing the event as the political elite lecturing from a position of wealth and privilege.

"Isn’t it nice to be lectured to by a couple of millionaires on how property taxes really aren’t that bad?" Eyman said.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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