No on I-1033
Sep 29, 2009
We are urging our members to oppose Tim Eyman's latest initiative, I-1033. It uses the same rigid and arbitrary formula as the “TABOR” law passed in Colorado, which led to deep cuts to public schools, children's health care, and state parks. This would harm Washington's people and natural resources.
Not another harmful initiative! Stop I-1033 to ensure healthy parks, farms, and ecosystems. Photo by Paul Anderson
We are urging our members to oppose I-1033, Tim Eyman's latest initiative. It uses the same rigid and arbitrary formula as the "TABOR" law passed in Colorado, which led to deep cuts for public schools, basic services, children's health care, and state parks.
The initiative proposes to cap future budgets at this recession year’s tight-belted levels. In last year's Washington State budget, the recession led to natural resource agency funding being slashed by about 25%, it was the largest reduction taken by any area of government. I-1033 would lock in place these drastically low levels of funding and would hamper the legislature's ability to fund state programs.
We fear it would force major cuts across the state budget, especially to conservation programs such as the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and the Trust Land Transfer program and jobs in natural resource conservation and wildlife management.
The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program is a state grant program that provides funding to protect habitat, preserve working farms, and create new local and state parks. The Trust Land Transfer program enables the state to move sensitive lands out of Department of Natural Resource's revenue-focused trust land program and into a more protective status.
