Rep. Cary Condotta reacts to repeal of Taxpayer Protection Act (I-960)

February 18, 2010

Rep. Cary Condotta reacts to repeal of Taxpayer Protection Act (I-960)

Majority Democrats pass contentious bill to scrap supermajority vote of Legislature to increase taxes, key taxpayer transparency provisions

In a move that will stun voters and severely impact family budgets, Democrats in the House of Representatives voted in favor of scrapping the Taxpayer Protection Act (Initiative 960) by passing Senate Bill 6130. Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, voted against the bill and issued the following statement:

“Initiative 960 was a 'stop' sign for government. Stop the spending and stop the taxing. Other states like California didn't get the message before it was too late. It is the poster child of where we do not want Washington to go. Prosperity is leaving California and people are abandoning the state because of over taxation and the inability to find work. We do not want to go down that road, but with the vote to overturn the last barrier between the government and your wallet, it looks like leaders of this state are prepared to drive us to the same conclusion.

“The people are waking up to the fact that spending more money for bigger government isn't working. In Washington state, spending increased $8 billion between 2005 and 2007, but are our schools any better? Is our infrastructure improving? Government must be smart and competitive, but the majority party wants to blow through the 'stop' sign that is I-960 and charge ahead down a dangerous path of a larger government consuming the very private sector that finances it.

“There's no going back after tonight. I fear the worst of our job losses are to come as legislators increase taxes and fees to the point where South Carolina and Texas are the new choices for our home-grown employers. We cannot tax our way into prosperity, but it looks like some in the Legislature still believe 'yes, we can.'”

Quick facts:

• The Taxpayer Protection Act (I-960) passed in 2007 with 59.2 percent of the vote in the 12th Legislative District, and 51.2 percent statewide. Current law requires: a two-thirds vote of the Legislature for tax increases; public e-mail notifications for tax increase proposals; and citizen advisory votes on tax increases.
• Senate Bill 6130, as passed by the state House, would remove the two-thirds vote requirement of the Legislature for tax increases immediately and notification of legislator votes on tax measures in voters' pamphlets. The bill will take effect after being signed into law by the governor.
• There are currently 77 bills in the state House that, when combined, would increase taxes and fees by more than $3 billion in the state's next fiscal year.

The 60-day legislative session is scheduled to adjourn March 11.

For more information contact Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-8252