I couldn’t disagree more with Reid Shockey regarding his Oct. 13 letter to the editor (“Elections: Jean Berkey will get us out of this mess”) where he tries to blame those who said “put the transportation proposal to a vote of the people, like the Governor promise.” The governor’s lack of leadership, not the 49-49 deadlock, is responsible for the transportation disaster.
Washington voters have twice approved initiatives to have the last word on paying higher taxes. Both times their will was struck down by the state Supreme Court on technicalities. Approving higher taxes will not assure transportation fixes. Just look at the Regional Transit Authority. Voters approved billions in 1996 for mass transit and not one inch of new track has been laid – yet cost overruns already abound!
So, if you want a lawmaker who will impose new taxes on you without asking for your approval or holding the Olympia bureaucrats accountable for results – vote for Berkey. But if you want a lawmaker who listens to you and respects your right to have the final say on whether you pay higher taxes and ensures that the voters get results for their hard earned tax dollars, vote for Erv Hoglund.
Mukilteo
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