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Friday, March 25, 2005
Toxic Cleanup: Keep voters' faith
When voters approve a tax, the state should make sure the money is spent for the purposes that the public intended. That should be a guiding principle for legislators.
Lawmakers must go back to basics in examining provisions of Gov. Christine Gregoire's budget that would divert about $25 million from toxic site cleanups. We have no doubt that other good purposes, including numerous worthwhile environmental measures, could be served by a one-time diversion of money.
That's not the point. In approving a 1988 initiative, voters created the Local Toxics Control Account to help cities, counties and ports clean up hazardous waste sites. The initiative put a small tax on hazardous substances, a levy appropriately tied to environmental restoration. Eric Johnson of the Washington Public Ports Association notes that the 1988 election was the last time statewide voters have gone to the polls to approve an initiative with a new tax. Part of the budget pressure on Gregoire today is due to two education-related initiatives mandating additional expenditures without new revenues.
It is imperative to keep faith with voters on spending issues. That's especially true when the voters themselves approved a new tax. The Legislature and the governor must nurture trust in government by refraining from a raid on the cleanup account.
 | |
| Should state lawmakers divert money from a tax established by initiative? | |
 3.5%Yes, for good causes. |
94.1% No. |
| 2.4% Don't know/Not sure. |
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| Total Votes: 255 | |
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