Peninsula Daily News news sources
OLYMPIA — An estimated 3,000 people lined the steps to the domed state Legislative Building before noon Monday to protest tax increases proposed by Gov. Chris Gregoire and legislative Democrats.
Then about 6,000 rallied in the afternoon to urge raising taxes so that education, social services and other state programs are less vulnerable to the budget ax.
The Presidents Day a.m. and p.m. rallies provided an unusual one-day illustration of the dilemma lawmakers in Olympia are in as they grapple with an estimated $2.8 billion budget deficit that will require deep cuts in state services — including employee layoffs — unless taxes are increased.
Monday’s morning protesters, who counted themselves as part of the national “tea party” movement, vowed a reckoning in November elections if lawmakers and Gregoire move ahead with the tax hikes.
The tax opponents carried signs reading, “Give us liberty, not debt,” “Don’t tread on my money” and “Deliver us from weasels.”
They were followed starting about an hour later by demonstrators — many of them members and representatives of state-employee unions as well as college students — saying they hoped the Legislature and governor would increase taxes in order to avoid cuts to education and social services, among other state programs.
Signs waved
People waved “Yes on revenue” signs.
Speakers used the r-word instead of the t-word when describing their solution to the state’s problems.
“There’s less revenue at a time when people need more help,” Leno Rose-Avila, director of Social Justice Fund Northwest, told the crowd, the Tacoma News Tribune reported.
The afternoon crowd numbered about 6,000, according to the State Patrol, which had estimated about 3,000 at the morning rally.
“This is incredible — there’s so many more of us than the other side,” said Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle.
“I think they’re running out of teabags.”
A large student presence ranged from a group of social-work graduate students from the University of Washington all the way down to fourth-grader Ashley Riley, who told the crowd that her elementary school in Tacoma can’t afford new library books, playground equipment or a full-time nurse.
“Our government needs to stop taking money away from schools, because that’s hurting kids,” Ashley said.
She concluded, as many of the grown-up speakers did: “We need to raise revenue to protect our future.”
Other participants spoke against cuts to programs that help the elderly and disabled.
Budget decisions
It’s a big week for budget decisions at the Legislature.
Gregoire is expected to detail her preferences for specific taxes early in the week, with Senate budget writers hoping to unveil their spending plan a few days later.
The state Senate has already suspended Initiative 960 — a move that would make it easier for legislators to raise taxes.
The suspension means taxes can be increased by a simple majority of 50 percent-plus-one vote, much easier than the two-thirds majority that Tim Eyman’s I-960 requires.
A vote in the Democratic-controlled House is expected today.
The North Olympic Peninsula’s two state representatives, Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, and Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, the House majority leader, are expected to vote yes to suspend I-960.
The Peninsula’s state senator, Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, voted with the 26-22 majority that passed the suspension in the Senate last week.
Kessler said Monday that Democrats will propose a mix of budget cuts and some tax increases to close the budget gap.
“You just can’t do an all-cuts budget,” she said. “We cut so much last year we don’t have much left.”
Eyman’s petitions
The changes to I-960 must clear the House and be signed into law by Gov. Chris Gregoire before lawmakers can move ahead with tax-raising votes.
Gregoire is expected to approve I-960’s suspension.
Eyman was at Monday’s morning rally in Olympia, passing out blank petitions in an effort to shore up the move against I-960 prior to the House vote.
He was seeking signatures to put a question on the ballot that would reinstate the two-thirds-majority requirement if I-960 is suspended.
Activists also could try to have voters overturn any tax increase bills as well as campaign in the fall elections against those who vote for tax hikes.
Both Kessler and Van De Wege are up for re-election in November.
“The powers that be have miscalculated the power of our numbers,” said Patrick Connor, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, at the morning rally.
“And one by one, we will take back the people’s Legislature.”
Chants of ‘liar’
Gregoire seemed to be the primary target of the morning crowd.
It chanted “liar” after Seattle talk radio host Dori Monson quoted the governor as saying tough economic times aren’t the time for leaders to raise taxes.
Monson agreed with the audience’s sentiment: “Christine Gregoire is a liar.”
“Don’t tell me, Madam Governor, that you have cut to the bone,” Monson said, “because everybody here can see there’s a lot of fat still hanging off that bone.”
When asked about being called a liar, Gregoire told The Seattle Times:
“I’m not into the name-calling. Let’s have a good discussion, let’s be respectful of each other. I respect their views.
“I respect what they have to say, but not when they resort to name-calling.”
