URGENT: Please forward this to everyone you know. Saturday, January 10th, 2014 The Tacoma News Tribune just reported that Republican Senator Bruce Dammeier opposes reinstating the 2/3 vote requirement for tax increases: Jordan Schrader Jan 8 -- Senate Rs Ericksen & Baumgartner pitched 2/3-for-taxes Senate rule Thurs, but Rs not united on it. Sen Dammeier opposes, for example #waleg https://twitter/Jordan_Schrader/status/553237044390944768 Now Im afraid Republican Senators Andy Hill, Joe Fain, and Steve Litzow are opposed too. This is very upsetting. If these 4 Republicans defect and join with the Democrats, the 2/3 protection will not be reinstated on Monday. It would be a brutal betrayal of their constituents trust. This vote should be a no-brainer for them: 71% of Bruce Dammeiers constituents want the 2/3 reinstated, 63% of Andy Hills constituents want the 2/3 reinstated, 70% of Joe Fains constituents want the 2/3 reinstated, 61% of Steve Litzows constituents want the 2/3 reinstated. The other 22 Senators in the Majority Coalition Caucus want the 2/3 reinstated. Each of you has from now until Sunday night to convince these 4 Senators to not defect and to support reinstating the 2/3 protection on Monday. Their email addresses are (cut and paste these into the To line of your email): [email protected]; bruce@brucedammeier; Andy@HillYes; [email protected]; joe@votefain; [email protected]; Steve@stevelitzow; [email protected] Send them a clear message: Dont betray us. Support bringing back the 2/3 protection on Monday. Bruce Dammeiers contact phone number is: 253-370-7198 Andy Hills contact phone number is: 425-577-7269 Joe Fains contact phone number is: 206-409-9418 Steve Litzows contact phone number is: 206-275-2245 Please take the time to contact all 4 of them this weekend. Tell them to support reinstating the 2/3 on Monday. Tell them not to fight their 22 Senate colleagues who strongly support reinstating the 2/3 on Monday. Tell them to support this invaluable opportunity to protect the taxpayers (for the next two years) by bringing back the 2/3 requirement on Monday. Your friend and ally, Tim Eyman, 425-493-9127, [email protected] P.S. For background on this effort, see the email update below: Thursday, January 8th, 2014 To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (ccd to the media, house & senate members, and Governor) From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, Fighting for Taxpayers for 16 years, 425-493-9127, [email protected], VotersWantMoreChoices RE: 2/3 rule for higher taxes? Temporary protection best option until the Legislature lets the people vote on a constitutional amendment Sen. Doug Ericksen and Sen. Michael Baumgartner are to be applauded: they are pushing their colleagues in the state senate to institute a senate rule requiring a 2/3 vote in the senate for higher taxes (fee increases will continue to require a simple majority vote). Here are details on it:michaelbaumgartner.src.wastateleg.org/baumgartner-ericksen-propose-new-two-thirds-taxes-rule-cite-taxpayer-protection/ They are giving the 26 members of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus the opportunity to: * respect the decision by the 2/3 of voters who support the 2/3 * protect the taxpayers for 2 years * hold Inslee to his no-new-taxes promise, making it tougher for him to push his aggressive tax-hiking agenda * affirm Republican legislators longstanding support for the 2/3 (like in 2010 when the Democrats pushed for a legislative vote to take away the 2/3, every Republican voted to maintain it) * affirm the Washington State Republican Partys unanimous and repeated support for the 2/3 * abide by the unanimous supreme court ruling in 2009 (Brown v Owen) where all 9 justices refused to interfere with the senates rules and procedures regarding the 2/3 They are asking their fellow members of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus to institute a policy protection the people have repeatedly proven they overwhelmingly support. Almost 2/3 of voters support the 2/3. 5 times the voters have approved the 2/3 by initiative. The last time, in 2012, the 2/3 received more votes than any initiative in state history (results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/Initiative-Measure-No-1185-Concerns-tax-and-fee-increases-imposed-by-state-government_ByCounty.html). It got more votes than Inslee got It got more votes than Obama got. It passed in every county. It was overwhelmingly approved in all 44 legislative districts outside Seattle. It was endorsed by most of the daily newspapers (Seattle Times, Spokesman Review, Vancouver Columbian, Kitsap Sun, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Longview Daily News, Yakima Herald-Republic, Tri-City Herald, Centralia Chronicle, Wenatchee World, Columbia Basin Herald, Bellevue/Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter, Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, Yakima Valley Business Times, and more). Consensus (con•sen•sus) -- general agreement; judgment arrived at by most of those concerned; solidarity. Clearly, there is an overwhelming consensus for the 2/3. The voters have heard all the arguments and theyve made their choice: they want it to be tougher to raise taxes. If the 26 members of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus institute a 2/3 rule for higher taxes next week, those 26 senators will have effectively represented their constituents -- 1.9 million voters will thank them. Those 26 senators represent legislative districts packed with voters who overwhelmingly support the 2/3. The average level of voter support for the 2/3 in their 26 districts is 70.12%. Heres the 26 senators and the support for the 2/3 in their districts: 7th district Brian Dansel 75% 20th district John Braun 75% 2nd district Randi Becker 74% 4th district Mike Padden 74% 31st district Pam Roach 73% 13th district Judy Warnick 73% 8th district Sharon Brown 73% 12th district Linda Evans Parlette 73% 39th district Kirk Pearson 72% 17th district Don Benton 72% 18th district Ann Rivers 72% 16th district Mike Hewitt 72% 25th district Bruce Dammeier 71% 9th district Mark Schoesler 70% 14th district Curtis King 70% 47th district Joe Fain 70% 26th district Jan Angel 70% 35th district Tim Sheldon 69% 30th district Mark Miloscia 69% 15th district Jim Honeyford 68% 10th district Barbara Bailey 68% 6th district Michael Baumgartner 68% 28th district Steve OBan 67% 45th district Andy Hill 63% 42nd district Doug Ericksen 61% 41st district Steve Litzow 61% A 2/3 rule will only protect taxpayers for the next two years. It is temporary. But it is the best option until the Legislature lets the people vote on a constitutional amendment (which provides permanent protection). Send an email to the 26 senators (cut and paste the email addresses below into the To line of your email) and simply write: Respect the 2/3 of voters who support the 2/3 and pass the 2/3 rule: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:46:51 +0000
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