What desperately needed source of revenue should Eyman and his buddies attack next?First he went after car tabs. Then he attacked property taxes (multiple times). Then he tried unsuccessfully to put a cap on all state, county, and city tax revenue with last year’s Initiative 1033. And he’s not letting failure stand in his way. Tim Eyman announced today that he will be getting a jump on next year’s ballot by unveiling his newest initiative this week. He offers no details except to say that: “There are thousands of politicians, bureaucrats, lobbyists, and special interest groups working each and every day to raise your taxes. Shouldn’t there be at least one person, one team, one organization that fights to lower your taxes?”We couldn’t agree more. Here are five tax-cutting schemes we think Eyman may turn to next.1: Property Tax exemption for everyone 43 and over:
Under state law, seniors and disabled persons making less than $35,000 a year can apply for a property-tax exemption. Eyman’s will call his new measure “The Senior Equality Initiative,” and explain that “in order to make state laws more equitable–the word ‘senior’ will include anyone over the age of 43 [coincidentally, Eyman’s age]. Owners with property valued at $383,204 [coincidentally, the average home value in Eymans’ hometown of Mukilteo] or more will qualify.”2: Cut sales taxes in half: Without an income tax, the 6.5 cents that Washington residents pay to the state on every dollar of non-food purchases is the only thing keeping government budgets afloat. Eyman’s measure would be called “Halve the Taxes; Double the Spending.” It would promise an economic recovery based on a surge in purchases of mail-order watches.3: Go green and stop paying for garbage pick-up: Playing off our green living ethos, Eyman would justify axing the public works tax, which helps pay for improving garbage pick-up and fixing potholes, thusly: “To encourage government innovation and consumer conservation, this initiative will inspire Washington state residents to produce less waste while simultaneously spurring local public works departments to find more cost effective means of fixing pot holes.” 4: Saving our kids through soda: Businesses selling the massive bags of syrup that supply pop machines give $1 of every gallon they sell to the state. The money goes to programs combating violence and drug use. Eyman’s justification for cutting it: “Pop makes kids smile. And when kids are happy, they are much kinder. But if they can’t buy the products that make them happy, they stop smiling. And that leads to violence.”5: Save the salmon by repealing Earth-killing taxes! Everyone knows smoking is bad, cigarette companies are evil, and the taxes they pay support everything from education to salmon recovery. Killing that tax may be the toughest sell of all. Eyman’s logic: tobacco is a plant, plants are good for the environment, and a healthy environment saves fish (and kids!).
