Three Initiatives and a Special Session

By Robby Stern

Our ballots will arrive in the mail within several weeks. PSARA has taken a position on three important initiatives on the ballot. The fate of these initiatives will have an impact on our future and the future of our state. For those of you who do not want to read more, we recommend:

NO on I-1125. NO on I-1183. YES on I-1163.

Tim Eyman’s newest broadside is Initiative 1125. The bulk of the contributions to I-1125, over $1 million, come from Kemper Freeman, a Bellevue developer. According to Eyman, I - 1125 is intended to block the voter-approved construction of light rail on I–90 across the Lake Washington Bridge. I–1125 also threatens the Evergreen Point floating bridge replacement, Clark County’s Columbia River Crossing, the Alaska Way Viaduct replacement and multiple other projects around the state. It also threatens thousands of much-needed good-paying jobs.

The vehicle Eyman uses to achieve his purposes is to remove the setting of toll rates from an independent nonpartisan commission and instead require the legislature to set toll rates. Every other state in the country has an independent commission setting toll rates to avoid the political gridlock that frequently occurs when elected politicians make these decisions. According to an independent analysis for the State Treasurer, the initiative will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in increased bond costs to pay for transportation projects.

PSARA recommends we vote NO on I-1125.

In 2008, voters overwhelmingly passed I–1029, which required criminal background checks and increased training for long-term care workers who assist vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities. In the 2010 legislative session, the legislature reduced the training requirements and delayed the criminal background checks. Initiative 1163, on the ballot this year, restores the training requirements and criminal background checks for long-term care workers.

Hairdressers must have 1000 hours of training and nail technicians 600 hours of training. Home care workers do difficult and important work visiting seriously ill seniors and people with disabilities. They help them dress, bathe, clean, get out of bed and cook so they can stay in their own homes. Under present law, they will not be getting the training and certification they need. Nursing home caregivers must have 85 hours of training while home care workers who provide the same kind of care in a more isolated setting get no similar level of training.

I have not yet met a senior who has told me they want to age in a nursing home. All of us aspire to age in our own homes where we feel more connected to our families and communities. Without qualified and trained caregivers who can help us live safely in our own homes, the most vulnerable among us will be forced into nursing homes. Requiring training and background checks is a common sense approach to the growing need for home care workers.

PSARA members at our membership meeting voted to endorse I-1163 and to recommend a YES vote.

Last November, Washington voters said NO to privatization of liquor sales. Costco and other large retailers have returned with I-1183, which will create five times as many hard liquor retailers. The Centers for Disease Control says that will likely lead to more than a 50 percent increase in consumption. It is predicted that one of every four minors attempting to buy alcohol from private retailers will succeed. When big corporations spend large amounts of money to pass an initiative like I-1183, you can bet it is not for the public good.

PSARA recommends a NO vote on I-1183.

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The Upcoming Special Session

The damage that Wall Street and the banks have done to our economy is just astonishing. The suffering they caused is growing worse and worse. Those who created this recession/depression continue to do very well. The wealth gap continues to grow to historic proportions.

Revenue to the state has declined even more than had been anticipated in the 2010 legislative session. The September revenue forecast predicted an additional $1.4 billion decline in revenue and Gov. Gregoire indicated the need for a special session after the November forecast to address the reduced revenue.

PSARA believes that cuts to education, healthcare and other essential services undermine any hope for an economic recovery. After billions and billions in cuts, our communities cannot afford any more cuts to jobs, our future and our quality of life. We will not be able to cut ourselves out of this crisis. Revenue must be part of the solution. Our elected leaders should pass a referendum to the people (if they cannot muster the required 60% vote) ending unfair tax breaks. Let voters decide whether we end unfair tax breaks -- or make deeper budget cuts.