I'm very pleased that the initiative passed. I heard on the news that it will probably be held up in the courts for months or possibly years.

1. Will we still pay the current fee?

I also heard on the news that come January when you go to pay the current fee, you should say that you are paying under protest. If you don't verbally say it is "payment under protest" then you won't get a refund when the $30 fee is instituted.

2. Can anyone shed any light on what exactly will happen? Also, will we get a refund if we pay the current fee in January?

I'd appreciate any responses to these questions.

David Nelson

-- David Nelson (dnelson1@wsu.edu), November 03, 1999

Answers

Nobody knows for sure what happens now. Most people agree there will be a court challenge, but that challenge will probably be limited to the provision of the initiative that requires a vote of the people on future tax and fee increases. The first step will be a motion filed by one of the anti-695 people asking for a temporary restraining order, stopping the implementation of I695. Unless there are grounds for halting the $30 tabs, the presiding judge will probably grant the motion in part and deny in part. The $30 tabs will become "law of the land" while the second part of the law is hashed out by the lawyers.

All I know is that come Jan 3rd, I'll be in line at the DOL ready, willing and able to pay my $30.

-- just a guy (torijosh@yahoo.com), November 03, 1999.