South Snohomish County legislators have expressed concern that passage of Initiative 1033 in the November election could keep them from giving state residents the things they want from the government.
I-1033 would limit spending growth by state and local governments to population growth plus inflation. Additional revenue would go to property-tax relief.
State Sen. Paull Shin and state Reps. Maralyn Chase and Al O’Brien all agreed that the initiative comes at a bad time, just after financial problems forced the state to cut education and other programs.
Shin, who represents the 21st Legislative District, including most of Edmonds plus Lynnwood and Mukilteo, is concerned that the initiative could harm attempts to restore money for class-size reduction and teacher pay.
Chase, who represents the 32nd District, including part of Edmonds plus Woodway, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore, says that Tim Eyman’s initiative is attacking taxes in the wrong way. She says that the initiative does nothing about the recessive nature of Washington’s tax system.
O’Brien, who represents the 1st District, including Bothell, Brier and Mountlake Terrace, said that Eyman was proposing a “meat-axe” approach to the state budget. He agreed with concerns that government would have to hold lots of elections to ask voters for money to support education and other programs.
Big changes possible in 1st District
The 1st Legislative District will have at least one open seat next year; it could have two.
O’Brien announced after last year’s election that this term would be his last. Now, Rep. Mark Ericks is a candidate to be U.S. marshal for the Western District of Washington. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray has recommended Ericks, a former police chief, for the position. No one seems to know if there are other candidates, when President Obama will make the nomination or when the Senate will act on it. If Ericks resigns, an appointee would serve until next year’s election.
Correction: 21st District Republican candidate
When I wrote last week that Republicans already had a candidate in 21st Legislative District, I made an error.
I meant to write that Elizabeth Scott had announced that she plans to run against Rep. Marko Liias. Somehow, I misused a program meant to help disabled people type; I hit the key for “annoyed,“ which was next to the key for “announced.”
Perhaps she was annoyed, but she really announced her candidacy against Liias.
Evan Smith can be reached at entpolitics@heraldnet.com.
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