I can't believe how many stupid people there are. Sure, we now will pay only $30.00 for vehicle registration, but I am SURE that the same morons who complain bitterly about any tax increase, such as those who buy cars out of their price range and cannot afford the taxes (for example) are the same people who condemn the government for its inability to supply adequate public transit, education, and enough people to staff the govenrment offices to answer their questions and get them through the registration line so they don't have to pay another cent into the parking meter. Does anyone have a clue? We pay taxes for those things we decide that the government must do for us and the rest of the community.

Now, taxes will come from somewhere else. Income tax seems the only possibility now, unless we want to increase the already high sales tax. At least before, those paying the highest taxes were those who placed value on a polluting, large or expensive car. With income tax, all you have to do is work to owe the govenrment. Wow, the foresight is simply mind boggling. I salute you I-695 supporters.

-- Anna Mossity (irritated@hotmail.com), November 03, 1999

Answers

Where will the money come from? Same place it always has - us. Except now the government has to spend it more responsibly. Demonizing the voters who passed 695 as "stupid" is akin to putting your head in the sand.

Three simple facts:

1. The vehicle registration tax was ridiculously expensive and unfair. 2. The state government had plenty of time to reform it significantly, but chose not to. 3. The majority of the voting populace in Washington realized that the only way to change the law was to do it themselves.

Finally, the reason I work is to support my family - that's it. So, I'm sorry if you have to wait an extra five minutes for a bus, but Washington doesn't earn for that money - I did. And this is not a piddly little tax we're talking about. It's literally hundreds of dollars a year. And now, thanks to the voters, I get to keep it.

God bless America.

P.S. Your income tax argument holds no water - under 695, the government can't enact it unless we let them.

-- Marty Simms (mbsimms@yahoo.com), November 03, 1999.

I don't think I've seen this on the forum, but...

I have wondered how many people do NOT register their vehicle(s) in Washingon due to the high MVET. Now, at $30, they'll register them here. Does anyone know the stats on this and the possible increase in MVET income to the state?

-- Webmaster (webmaster@lifetel.com), November 03, 1999.

Subject: where do you people think the money will come from?

I love the YOU PEOPLE part of the question. It's implied contempt for the ignorant masses just permeated the pro-MVET campaign. Except, it's the "ignorant masses" that PAY the taxes that makes Anna's pet projects possible. So very much like the ante-bellum South, where the slaveowners looked with contempt upon the workers who made their plantation lifestyle possible. Both groups consider themselves an aristocracy, and those who work to support their aristocratic lifestyle to be less than fully human. And they call themselves LIBERALS! Oh, the irony.

-- Mark Stilson (mark842@hotmail.com), November 03, 1999.

Anna Whiner

Answer. It won't be coming from me anymore.

Ed - I'm not insensitive, I just don't care.

-- Ed (ed_bridges@yahoo.com), November 03, 1999.

Webmaster:

FWIW, the figure I recall seeing reported in the papers, which comes from either State DOL or State DOR figures, is that an estimated 100,000 state residents have registered their vehicles in Idaho or Oregon. If true, then in two months the state won't have to worry about apprehending 100,000 scofflaws. Will we then be able to lay off an appropriate number of DOL or DOR agents?

-- A.C. Johnson (ajohnson@thefuture.net), November 03, 1999.

Anna, I am one of these "stupid people". This "stupid" person has worked to support mass transit, ferries, schools and other government programs. I also worked so I could pay for private education of my children while still supporting the Fed. brain washing clinics referred to as Public schools. I drive a 16 old station wagon, by choice, and pay 40.00 in tabs. I do not have mass transit in my rural area,nor are there ferries. Apparently you are of the opinion that Big Brother has a duty to support you and your pet projects. WRONG! Government's duty is to protect the citizens, not get involved in businesses that would no doubt be profitable if they were privatized. Being a "stupid" person, I believe that people should take care of themselves and each other, and not rely on government handouts from cradle to grave. From the results of the election, I have to say I'm proud to be one of the "stupid" people who helped pass I-695. I suggest that maybe you tithe 10% of your income ( assuming you work for a living) and donate whatever you desire to the agencies that threaten to cut your pet services. Give till it hurts! The rest of us have!

-- Leithel Lady (leithellady@yahoo.com), November 03, 1999.

I love it when people who lose the vote call the winners idiots and stupid. It's funny because the MINORITY is calling the MAJORITY idiots. I guess the losers consider themselves the smart ones and we are the large group of idiots they have to deal with.

-- John McCormick (johnmcc@my-dejanews.com), November 03, 1999.

I always have to laugh at people attack other peoples' intelligence while waving the flag of thier own ignorance.

Our state constitution prohibits an income tax for one thing and the very bill we voted for would make us vote on it for another.

We also have a huge tax surplus in this state (something like a billion dollars) for politicians to allocate out. There is no need for any cutting of programs funded by the old, inflated license tax. Most of the programs that people were worried about were funded by the gas tax in any case which, oh yeah, is one of the highest in the USA.

-- Anubis (anubis@speakeasy.org), November 03, 1999.

Well I know where some of the money can come from. Washington State bought a $250,000 corporate sponsorship for the WTO which entitles them to a few tickets to schmooze with the international tax takers. What is the total of all Washington government spending on the WTO conference? Maybe we could start charging professional ball teams a fair price for the use of our stadiums, like maybe 8% of the acquisitition cost per year, plus maintenance costs. How about doing performance audits, which can identify wasted or duplicate effort that can be eliminated in all of our state departments, agencies, etc. How about starting to log off our state forest lands to provide for the common schools so the legislature doesn't have to divert other money to bail out the DNR.

-- Art Rathjen (liberty@coastaccess.com), November 03, 1999.

Anna, are you from Rio Linda? Maybe California is a better place to live.

-- Jim labyak (jimlab@msn.com), November 03, 1999.

I can tell you were the money can come from,I have worked for the state for over 20 yrs just recently the ferry system created more jobs in managment that we did'nt need and have more people on what the state calls special projects that we don't need even with 695 facing them. I voted for 695 although I was asked not to by unions and around away by the state. Oh YEA!! did you know that the W.S.F is raising rates the highest they can by law before JAN 1st. I plan on giving my notice after jan 1st I can no longer work for this state,I can just imagine on many other waste in other state agencies.

-- Ash. R. (della62@hotmail.com), November 03, 1999.

I hope they enjoy it while they can, No.1 on my list of budget cuts is to privatize the ferry system.

-- no chance (kingoffools_99@yahoo.com), November 03, 1999.

Hmmm, that's the same thing I ask the state everytime my taxes go up. "where's the money going to come from". But by gawwwwd, I make ends meet. And funny, the money the state has been wrenching from me in the past has been going towards vital programs within my household, yet somehow, I was able to balance my budget, reprioritize spending, and pay my taxes with a smile on my face, and the love of Jesus in my heart. However, my former MVET monies have already been diverted to critical household programs, and now this time, I really can't afford any cuts- at least not without jeapardizing the health, safety and economy of my family.

-- Paul Oss (jnaut@earthlink.net), November 03, 1999.

where is the money comming from? what about the 1billion in excess reserve.

-- KC (kellrs@msn.com), November 15, 1999.

How about the $140 million from decreases welfare caseloads? Naw, might have to lay off an MSW ot two.

-- (zowie@hotmail.com), November 15, 1999.

Wanta know how all of your taxes can be reduced for the next few years and kept at bay????

Go get an education about your state's CAFR or combined annual financial report. In it will show where the profits/revenues are being filtered and grown through investments. Is it legal to hide this from the public? Probably. Can we the public change the laws to access OUR money? Of course we can. It has to be done just like Tim Eyman did. One half a million signatures putting it on the ballot to change the law. Simple. Go get 'em.

From Walter Burien~

From: The State of Washington 1998 CAFR I reference the following:

Page 106 - 40.093 Billion Combined total assets of Pension Funds Page 107 - 12.406 Billion Assets of Enterprise Groups Page 154 - 18.907 Billion total annual (1998) revenue take collected by the state, with (1989 page 185) being 9.5 Billion a 100% increase (1989-98) Page 161 - 42.349 Billion Trust and Agency Funds (1998) investment total (1997) 36.474 Billion (a six billion dollar increase in one year) Page 189 - 4.5 Billion Total Property taxes (1997) levied (1988) 2.1 Billion, over a 115% increase

Based on Washington State government's "over-all" financial condition there was no need for any property taxation for the last 5 years. If due to I-695 they target cutting consumer sensitive operations, in plain language, kick their asses out in the street and close the door behind them.

Want to learn more about CAFR? Meet Walter Burien the 'Tim Eyman' of the secret financial reporting 'scheme' on city/county/state and federal levels.

Read/listen here:

Here is Walter's 'unofficial' website:

http://www.buildfreedom.com/cevi/cevi_1.htm

Here is the 2 part article and commentary from World Net Daily:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_exnews/19990614_xex_the_governme. shtml

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_exnews/19990615_xex_secret_slush. shtml

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_btl/19990615_xcbtl_government.sht ml

Here is an article from the Spotlight:

http://health.microworld.com/html/latest_news.html

Walter appeared on the Geoff Metcalf show in Nov. 98 and on Jeff Rense Dec 11, 1998. You can listen to the Rense show here if you have real audio capabilities.

http://www.broadcast.com/shows/endoftheline/9812/end1211.ram

-- C Deitchman (cdeitchman@bigfoot.com), November 16, 1999.

This would be worth some investigation. I see you include Pension Fund money, that the state holds for the retirement of ALL GOVERNMENT employees within the state. That is not the states money. I also see Trust and Agency funds, that I believe are also funds held in trust by the state but are not state funds. This kind of information needs to be evaluated with some knowledge of what it actually means. You can't make assumptions based on what was presented above.

-- dbvz (dbvz@wa.freei.net), November 16, 1999.