Aside from death and taxes, Washington residents can expect another nuisance every election cycle: an initiative from Tim Eyman. Eyman, a WSU alumnus, initiative guru and political activist, has made a career out of creating problems where none existed and attempting to limit the government’s ability to perform its simplest responsibilities. Eyman’s newest initiative (I-1033) would cap the annual growth of state, county and city general fund revenue to the previous year’s revenue plus the rate of inflation and population growth, severely handicapping local governments from making basic spending decisions. The initiative would also use excess general fund revenue to reduce property taxes, which would benefit the one group of people who need the least amount of help – property owners. In Pullman, landowners would reap the benefits while roads deteriorated and schools turned into dilapidated hovels.

I-1033 is based on an ideology, not reality. It would force every city and county – regardless of size – to adhere to the same one-size-fits-all policies. Every community has different problems and priorities that cannot be addressed in the same uniform manner. There is a reason why voters in Colorado suspended a similar initiative in 2005: Placing rigid draconian limits on the government hinders its ability to provide essential services such as education and health care.

From Seattle to Pullman, local governments are diametrically opposed to the initiative. Pullman City Supervisor John Sherman has said the city has only opposed two state initiatives in the past 10 years – Eyman supported both of those. According to Washington’s Office of Fiscal Management, I-1033 would reduce the state’s general fund revenues for health, education and environmental services by an estimated $5.9 billion by 2015. The same study found that city and county revenues could be cut by as much as $2.8 billion during the next five years. I-1033 could not come at a worse time. The recession is already preventing the state from providing essential services and, I-1033 would further deprive elected officials the tools they need to battle the recession. Though Washington is facing a sizable deficit, employment figures can rebound as long as deficit spending is permitted. Had Eyman’s initiative been implemented during the Great Depression, the nation would have never been able to scale its economic hurdles. A report issued by the Washington State Budget & Policy Center states that I-1033 would limit amount of revenue the state could spend even when the economy bounces back because the revenue caps would occur at artificially low levels. More effective means could be pursued to ensure fiscal responsibility besides capping local government revenues. Electing responsible politicians and monitoring legislation would accomplish the same ends without sacrificing the state’s infrastructure and social programs.

If Eyman wants to truly make a difference in Washington, he needs to run for office and stop abusing the initiative process. Initiatives and referendums are vital tools for people to voice their opinions and circumvent inert legislatures, but when they are abused they lead to mob rule and impractical proposals like I-1033. On Election Day, voters should vote against I-1033.