First day of the new legislative session… first day to file initiatives to the people… it’s back to the real work of governing. While Dino Rossi, the BIAW, and the folks at (un)Sound Politics continue to pursue their real agenda — undermining the public’s faith in all government — I hope you’ll excuse me if I take a break from refuting their lies to address some real issues.
For example, as I write this, initiative profiteer Tim Eyman is holding what I expect to be a sparsely attended news conference, to introduce his newest ill-conceived initiative: mandatory performance audits of every state and local government agency, account and program.
Personally, I think performance audits can be a useful tool, along with Gov. Locke’s Priorities of Government program, for evaluating the efficiency of existing state programs, and reprioritizing government spending. But as usual, Timmy’s proposal is more about punishing government than making it efficient, and this initiative is really, stupidly over-the-top.
It’s one thing to empower the State Auditor to conduct performance audits. It’s another thing to require him to audit every single agency, account and program in the state. I mean, let’s be serious… the cost of conducting a performance audit on the average local cemetery district would likely far exceed the district’s entire budget.
How expense is this initiative. Well, Eyman dedicates a portion of the state sales tax equal to about $10 million a year. I believe in accounting terms, this is technically referred to as “a lie.” According to the State Auditor’s Office, the real cost would likely be in excess of $90 million per biennium. Not only that, it would require increasing staff levels by at least four-fold, and take 10 to 12 years to implement. That’s right… Eyman is proposing over a half billion dollars of new spending!
Way to cut government, Tim!
Don’t believe me? Check out the document provided by the State Auditor’s Office in response to questions by public watchdog group Permanent Defense. The Auditor is particularly critical of including local government agencies in the initiative, calling it “ill-advised.”
So where do I stand on this issue. As usual, I tend to defer to well-regarded professionals when it comes to issues on which I have only limited expertise… so I support giving State Auditor Brian Sonntag the kind of legislation he wants:
We believe the intent behind the initiative is good, however, we also firmly believe that there is a better way. We were nearly successful in getting a measure passed during the 2004 session of the Legislature… In our view, the optimum means of accomplishing an independent, comprehensive performance audit function is to have the Governor and Legislature embrace it and enact authorizing legislation and funding to support it.
Sonntag nearly got the legislation he asked for last year… it had the votes to pass the Democrat-controlled House, but was blocked in the Republican Senate. Now that the Democrats control both houses of the Legislature, and the Governor’s Mansion, it seems likely that responsible performance audits legislation will be signed into law, preempting Eyman’s initiative, regardless of his rhetorical gamesmanship.
But even if the Legislature grinds to halt in the partisan meltdown currently being promised by Republicans, and nothing is passed, this initiative still doesn’t have a snowball’s chance. Over the past few years Eyman has demonstrated that he lacks the grassroots support to finance both an initiative campaign and his standard of living. If he couldn’t rile up money-in-my-pocket fervor with last year’s “25% tax cut” initiative, performance audits is guaranteed to be a fundraising dud. And without directly benefiting a greedy special-interest like the gambling industry, he has no sugar-daddy to bankroll his efforts.
Makes you wonder, what with all the money he’s wasted proposing and running failed initiatives… isn’t it time his contributors conduct a performance audit on Tim Eyman?
Well said.
Oh, and for all you who like pick on Josef… take a look at the name on the top of the Auditor’s document.
See, Josef’s just a little misguided on the Rossi issue.
I wish Josef would put a little effort into those County Auditor public records I suggested. Mike Segal discussed them on his program today at great length. They raise many questions…like WHO ask the Dem. Yakima Co. Auditor, Corky Mattingly, to write and run around soliciting signatures for a “blind faith” letter of suuport for Dean Logan…without ever taking the time to verify independently whether Logan did a good job or not.
Spending a lot of time on Eyman is a good way to try & deflect attention from the mounting information that cries for a RE-VOTE. I agree, the Legislature should clearly define and fund performance audits. THAT’S CLEARLY DEFINE THE SCOPE AND FUND PERFORMANCE AUDITS.
Precious public money requires a high level of accountability just as County Election Officials do with precious votes and voters (notice how I mentioned both votes & voters because apparently to some they don’t have to exactly patch!!)
OOPS!! That’s Match!!
Since there’s a much better than 50/50 chance that Cynical is wrong, I’d take Goldy’s post (and Eyman’s actions that preceded it) as a sign that people are moving on and getting back to business.
Rossi will probably lose in Chelan, but even if he doesn’t, he’ll lose in Supreme Court and fade into the background. The rest of the state, including all the Republican legislators, will get back to the business at hand.
And Cynical will be out of work again, unless the BIAW can figure out another initiative with a misleading title for him to shill for.
It would be nice if Tim Eyman would propose an initiative that would be popular, useful in expressing voter anger, and effective in tearing the roots out of the Fraudoire regime. An expensive program of excessive performance audits won’t quite do the trick, nor will voters be happy about such a large increase in spending. I was thinking that an initiative to completely abolish the state sales tax would be a lot more effective. And if someone other than Eyman were to propose it, and get it qualified for the ballot (and even more so if the voters approve it in November), I think Eyman would be put out of business permanently. And such an initiative might get broad based support. For example, Permanent Defense thinks that the state sales tax is mighty unfair and regressive.
Having to rally for someone after they have already won seems like our system isn’t quite working. However, for those interested in support Gregoire, here is the information:
Rally at the Capitol
Tuesday Morning 1/11
Support Christine Gregoire
Let the Legislature Hear Your Voice
Tuesday, January 11th 10:30 AM
State Capitol, Olympia Washington
Story Pole on the North Side of the Capitol Campus
For More Information call (206) 328-2969
(yes, expect to see the KVI crowd ranting there too dressed in Coast Guard Orange vests)
Richard, I fully expect an investigation into Eyman’s operations to occur in the next 2-5 years where it’s discovered he’s misrepresented his use of the funds he’s received and defrauded his supporters (just like that guy in Oregon). Tim will be brought down because he can’t take his own advice about politicians (he believes they put their interests above the people they serve).
Which makes him, basically, a corrupt politician who chooses not to do the hard work of getting elected.
Good idea Erik. I’m reposting the information as a separate blog entry.
Comment by Mr. Cynical— 1/10/05 @ 1:53 pm
I can’t get you what you asked for. Sorry.
Comment by Goldy— 1/10/05 @ 12:55 pm
Thank you :-). Just have a new election and a new Dem. candidate and I’ll leave the dark side of the force, okay?
Comment by jcricket— 1/10/05 @ 2:48 pm
I concur.
I’ll grant that Tim Eyman may have only a passing acquaintance with ethical standards, but it is too easy to make him the fall guy for all of the anti-tax initiatives that have been passed by the electorate. Walt Kelly long ago (1972) pointed out the real problem. Remember? “Yep, son. We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Liberals (a.k.a. Democrats) have done a poor job in keeping the public informed about what benefits accrue to the community (whether a community of a few, as in a family, or a community of many, as in the state) through the expenditure of tax revenues. This is particularly true in eastern Washington, which benefits disproportionately from tax expenditures. A little reminder occasionally about “liberal” initiatives from the past, such as rural electrification, Columbia Basin irrigation projects, and farm loan programs could also be helpful.
Comment by RDC— 1/10/05 @ 3:24 pm
Well said.
Richard – get off the smoke. Dems in al countie think the ales tax is regresive. it is.
Buy there would be no support to abandon money to run govt. without a system to provide the same revenue. Pipe dreaming.
Timmie has lost his platform on tax reform. Too many scams and to much con artist instead of political guru.
RDC – yes, and let’s include schools and roads and bridges and libraries and dams and courts and police and fire. It is a very long list in this modern and complicted culture.
Colleges and support for the disabled and un employed and saftey rules for industry and providing clear water and…….long list
Guys, you are whistling past the graveyard on this prediction of Eymans irrelevancy. Unless there is a re vote (oops, “special election), enough people will be ” mad as he77 and not gonna take it any more” to pass oe of Eyman wet dreams. The performance audit one is not the one to worry about, it is whatever big one he dreams up to chop block the state. It won’t matter whether Eyman is a crook or liar, all that will matter is the public will want to bite back after getting bitten by this shamefully managed election. (By the way, Gregoire or the dems in the legislature do have a choice. A re vote would prevent this fiasco from resulting in an Eyman victory).
And if it’s not Eyman it will be one of his spawn. Unless there is a re vote.
Stop threatening the Dems with the return of Tim Eyman unless there’s a re-vote. It’s a pathetic argument. I’m not supporting your attempt to change the rules midstream or give your candidate a second chance because there’s an outside possibility that a discredited watch saleseman will have the chance to pass more initiatives.
Moreoever, Rossi’s got the same anti-tax fervor that Eyman has, and more right-wing social ideas. So giving Rossi a chance to govern is definitely worse than the possibility that Eyman might get an iniative on the ballot.
And remember, it’s the rurual counties (who vote for Eyman the most) that end up hurt the most by Eyman’s policies. He’s taking away tax revenue those who can least afford it, and have few ways to make it up. You reap what you sow.