High-income Elitists Relieve Their Guilt With Your Money

Talk show host Dave Ross used to be somewhat independent - then he ran for Congress as a Democrat. Tim Eyman was a guest on his Seattle radio show on KIRO last week. They talked about Bill Gates' income hyper-tax initiative. This is a partial transcript of that interview.

Tim Eyman: "The Pandora's Box isn't just this proposal. It's a message from the voters, by voting for something like this, we're saying "You guys don't have a spending problem, you have a revenue problem, here's a bunch more money." And they're going to interpret that as "now we don't have to reform ourselves, we don't have to prioritize." I think Bill Gates Sr. is being extremely selfish ... he can afford any tax system. But what about those people on the bubble who are going to end of being jacked up with higher taxes (because of his initiative). He's only thinking of himself ... what we're going to end up getting in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years is higher taxes on everybody, people who can't afford the higher tax burden. Liberalism is a fantastic program if you can afford it. But there's normal people who can't afford all the things you guys wanna have."

Dave Ross: "The thing I noticed yesterday is that the liberals that would be affected by it were for it. ... I do feel a kind of liberal guilt for them to get the chance."

Eyman: "Don't feel guilty ... you're probably spending your money, giving a bunch of your money back to the economy. You have no reason to feel guilty. Chances are Libby (his producer) wouldn't have a job unless you have a job. I mean there are a lot of people who are benefiting from you making money. And I don't think you should feel guilty for it. If you want to give the government more money, feel free. You can give 'em extra money and I'm sure they'd be happy to take it. But when you start imposing taxes on everybody else to relieve your guilt, I think you're only thinking of yourself and you're not thinking of everyone else."

Ross: "That's true and I do feel better now. So you'd be OK if we cut my income taxes and institute a flat tax and got rid of progressive taxation altogether?"

Eyman: "I think that a flat tax would be better than the current federal system we have now. But once again, you always have to look at combined local, state, federal: we're all getting the crap kicked out of us when it comes to taxes. I don't think they should be raising taxes in the middle of a recession. I don't want it on the working class, I don't want it on high earners. I think they shouldn't be raising taxes right now."

During this year's legislative session, Democratic Party politicians in Olympia and the 'Public Interest Groups' (PIGs) that support them imposed $800 million in higher taxes. That turned out to be just an 'opening bid.' Now they're pushing for a billion dollars more with this income tax initiative.

They claim property taxes will be offset by 20%, but 1. This doesn't add up, and 2. Olympia has never willingly lowered taxes. A billion more won't be enough. No matter how much we give them, they always want more. Our tax initiatives are the only thing that have effectively restrained their insatiable appetite for higher taxes.

I-960's required 2/3's of the legislature vote in order to raise taxes. The I-960 law completely protected us from tax hikes for 2 years. There wasn't a single tax increase in 2008 and 2009 despite $9 billion in attempted deficits. Frustrated, the Democratic Party politicians in Olympia overthrew the will of the people and eliminated I-960.

I-1053 will restore this same complete protection for taxpayers in 2011 and 2012. Click to Voters Want More Choices

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According to Article VII, Section 1 of Washington’s Constitution “all taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected for public purposes only.” Tax on income is illegal in Washington State. A 1933 State Supreme Court case also struck down the idea of creating an income tax.

But what if your income is not your property? The Democratic Party is trying to establish the dangerous precedent that your money is not yours. Gates insists the tax would be on income before an individual collects the income; the income is not in your immediate possession, therefore the income is not personal property. This notion only works if you do not own the income you make. Clearly, the Democratic Party scoundrels are trying to lay the axe to the root of the tree.

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Part of this item is from a press release by Voters Want More Choices

In Comes Income Taxes

This week, Bill Gates, Sr. kicked off his version of fair taxes for Washington with his income tax initiative I-1077. Gates was not happy that Olympia raised taxes by 14% this year. Gates seems to think taxes are not high enough. Bill Gates, Sr. is stooge for every big government abuse out there.

Gate's initiative 1077 makes clear the need for initiative 1053. No matter how much Olympia takes from the taxpayers, they always want more. Olympia jacked up taxes $800 million this session [$5.7 billion over the next 10 years].

Instead of the big government types saying 'thanks, that's enough,' they follow up with a $1 billion per year income tax initiative. [And a $90 million water rights tax only yesterday] You can be sure, even that won't be enough. It's like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom -- it's never enough.

The initiative kick-off event was held in Seattle. The media (!) highlighted I-1077's fundamental flaw:

Bryan Johnson of KOMO TV asked: "Does anyone have to fear soon this (income tax threshold) will creep to above $150,000, and then above $100,000, and then everybody pays?"

Bill Gates Sr. responded: "Uhh, the, the initiative provides that the rates and levels cannot be changed without a vote of the people. So there is that protection built in."

Essex Porter of KIRO TV followed up: "But could you expand on that, because initiatives can usually be changed after two years. And Initiative 960 was changed after two years and there was a vote of the people then."

Gates responded: "Uh, that's right, that's a very astute question. And I don't know that anybody knows completely the answer for that. But for myself, I would be astonished if, given that specific provision in this specific tax statute, that the Legislature would undertake to make a change in it without complying with the language of the initiative and going to the people to get their permission."

Gates clearly lives in a bubble.

First we need to get Olympia on a diet we can pay for before we let them add even more taxes to our burden. The best way to do this is by requiring law makers have a 2/3rds majority every time they raise taxes. Responsible government is everybody's business.

http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com

(part of this column is from a report by Tim Eyman)

Gregoire's $8 billion lie - field report.

"Gregoire promised that if she was reelected as Governor that she wouldn't raise taxes. The following year, facing a $9 billion deficit, Initiative 960's 2/3's vote requirement stopped her from jacking up taxes. But this year, she and the Democrats suspended I-960 and jacked up taxes $8 billion over the next 10 years, $800 million per year (she'll claim that some of the tax increases are 'temporary' -- but as everyone knows in Olympia, temporary taxes are always made permanent). [ Note - Mr Eyman was prescient. See the Olympia Policy Watch article Did we say "temporary" tax? ]

"So she promised 'no tax hikes' and yet she imposed $8 billion in higher taxes. That's Gregoire's $8 billion lie."
-- From Tim Eyman, http://www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com

The only thing that restrains Olympia is the citizens saying No New Taxes! The most effective way to say "no" is with the 2/3's legislative vote requirement. That's what Initiative 1053 will do. It makes raising taxes an absolute last resort....

That is until the big government politicians overthrow the will of the people again. The hyper-taxing, big-government, lying politicians must go too.

WA Tax Update - from the front lines

"Looks like an increase in the sales tax (2% to 3%), for now, is not being considered to balance the budget. There is a possible add in a sales tax on beer.

"Possible increases could be on B&O for services business from 1.5% to 1.8% or more. The Governor is threatening a 20% cut in the state budget if no agreement is reached.

"There is still a proposal for “on-site property managers” [an indirect rent tax for apartment dwellers], plus raising apartment house Business & Occupancy tax.

"Lawmakers will be coming to Olympia tomorrow and may work through the weekend."

Mark Gjurasic
Public Affairs of Washington, LLC

Washington State's Knee-jerk Tax Increase

from the Evergreen Freedom Foundation newsletter

"As time runs out on the special session—scheduled to end April 13—lawmakers continue to struggle on finalizing the state budget. The big holdup is over a disagreement between Democrats in the House and Senate on the tax package.

"Both chambers have approved tax proposals that raise $800 million to close the budget gap, but the content of the proposals are different. All the hand-wringing has come down to about $100 million worth of disagreements over which taxes to raise.

"Meanwhile, the Legislature did manage to pass a few taxpayer-unfriendly proposals. Last week legislators passed a tax increase to pay for an enhanced 911 system that is expected to collect nearly $79 million over the next 10 years. Legislators seemed impervious to the argument that core functions of government, like public safety, should be funded first and within existing resources. This tax hike is in addition to the $800 million package (nearly $3 billion over 3 years) legislators expect to pass to balance the budget.

"Imagine the progress we could have made if legislators had dedicated even a tenth of the time spent haggling over taxes to considering real reforms needed to balance the budget over the long haul! Some of the reforms we’ve suggested include paring down state employee benefits, privatizing the liquor system, and allowing private companies to get taxpayers a better deal by competing with each other to provide vital government services.

"Ironically, Sen. Ed Murray said, in defending the Senate’s recent tax proposal, “There are no real good choices when you’re raising taxes.” We agree! And if that’s true, why is that the only thing Democrats in the Legislature are considering? We have proposed many common-sense solutions to our budget problems. You can read many of them on our website at www.effwa.org.

"We need to send a loud and clear message to lawmakers that they need to work to save money and make government more efficient, not raise taxes! That’s one of the reasons we are co-sponsoring a “Tea for Two” Tax Day Rally next week on April 15. Several staff members will also be speaking at Tax Day Tea Party Rallies in other locations.

"Please join us as we rally for common-sense solutions. Both “Tea for Two” rallies are packed with an assortment of dynamic speakers, live music, and family-friendly entertainment, while at the same time giving you the chance to make your voice heard on issues like health care, taxation, and out-of-control government."

Amber Gunn, Evergreen Freedom Foundation

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Tea Party Rallies on April 15, 2010
Tea for Two Part 1: Olympia Rally – Capitol Campus from Noon-3:00 p.m.
Event link

Tea for Two Part 2: Seattle Rally – Westlake Park from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Event link

Whidbey Island Tea Party Rally in Oak Harbor – Windjammer Park Gazebo from 4-6 p.m.
Event link

Information about other rallies in Spokane, Tri-Cities, Bellingham, and others:
Event link

After Tax Day Rally on April 17, 2010
Vancouver “We the People” Rally – Esther Short Park from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Event link