EFFin' Unsound

From a Seattle Times editorial a few days ago:

But government is also hurting, and wants to shift the hurt somewhere else. The latest idea is a 0.3-point increase in the state sales tax, offered by Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, chairman of the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee.

Pettigrew’s idea comes less than a month after the sales tax in his district was raised to 9.5 percent generally, and 10 percent on prepared food, because of last November’s vote on Sound Transit. Pettigrew’s bill would raise those rates to 9.8 percent and 10.3 percent for three years.

Notice the passive voice there. The sales tax in his district just magically was raised. They do mention the ST vote, but don’t even bother mentioning the Pike Place or Parks levies. All three passed by the people pretty overwhelmingly. Over 60% for the Pike Place levy; just under 60% for parks; over 60% for Mass Transit Now in King County and 58% across the 3 county district.

We all knew we were in a recession, and that it was going to be pretty bad back in November. So there is a will at least in Seattle and King County for more taxes if we know we’re going to get our money’s worth.

In any event, remember this the next time the Mercer Island Mutt Murderer mentions the will of the people on some dumbass Eyman initiative that passed by a few percent in an off year. A sales tax, or an income tax, or a whatever tax would be put in front of the people, but if they vote to raise those taxes, well, it’ll somehow represent less than the will of the people. It’ll just happen.

Late Update: Having just read Goldy’s piece on the same editorial, it occurs to me that the Times thinks that having 5000 people at a protest is a better measure of the will of the people than 3 concurrent votes of the people.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 20th, 2009 at 7:16 AM and is filed under Carl. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.