Ask the real question on Initiative 1098
Published 1:43 pm Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Last week, your reporter’s question to people on the street was “Do you support an income tax for the wealthy?” Three of the four responders said “No,” reasoning the tax would eventually be extended to be payable by everybody—never mind the prohibition in the initiative against expansion of the tax to incomes below those covered without a vote of the people and other safeguards. The fourth said, “Sure, it they’re making a bunch of money, might as well.”
What would those responses be if the question was “Do you support funding for first-rate public schools and medical services for children in poor families?” Under Initiative 1098, after deduction of the revenue loss necessary to cover property tax savings to benefit property owners and the expanded B&O tax credit to benefit small businesses, the balance, projected to be about $2 billion a year, goes to an education and health care trust fund. This will be divided with 70 percent going to public schools and 30 percent to restore funding to provide medical care for children growing up in poor families. How can anyone not want to support that?
Gov. Gregoire says she is voting “yes” for 1098. She adds, “I’m asking the voters to consider it. What’s the alternative? More cuts to education that we simply can’t afford.” Another supporter is David Spring, candidate for legislature and passionate supporter of funding schools without adding to the middle class tax burden, because he knows the legislature hasn’t and won’t vote the funds necessary to give kids in this state the education to compete for living-wage jobs.
Federal funds to help states cover education costs are drying up. Annual state budget shortfalls of $3 to $5 billion in income are projected over the next two to three years, that will have to be made up by cuts in spending to balance the budget. This is leading to scary projected reductions in funding for education. Funding for medical care for small children has already been cut and is on the block for more.
Initiative 1098 is an important vote for the children of Washington.
Dave Olson
North Bend
