Defending The Transportation Plan

The Transportation Plan killer initiative is facing a ballot title challenge as previously reported. A hearing is scheduled for late this week or early next week. A challenge to the initiative's ballot title and summary is not an unusual step in the process to ensure a fairly and accurately worded statement. Indeed, in the past, improperly worded initiatives have ended up being declared invalid after the voters have cast their vote.

Meanwhile, Seattle Times columnist Kate Riley has written about the initiative in Tuesday's paper. Riley notes:

In this state, where tax-cutting initiatives have become something of a cottage industry for some activists, conservatives already are gunning for moderate Republicans who did the responsible thing and voted for a hefty, but altogether necessary, gas tax. (Believe me, I have no such affection for the heft of the state budget's tax increases.)

The timing of gas-tax increases — 9 ½ cents a gallon over four years — is tough, especially with gas prices soaring. But moderate Republicans joined Democrats to do the responsible thing and take the heat.

She goes on to write:

Earlier this month, I appeared with the entertaining [KVI radio talk show host and initiative backer, Kirby] Wilbur on a media panel at the Mainstream Republicans of Washington conference in Richland.

It was the easiest speaking gig I've ever had.

Once Wilbur started in on how irresponsible the gas tax was, several Republican lawmakers all but wrestled for the microphone to challenge him. Whether they were from just east of Lake Washington or far east of the Cascades, these mainstream Republican lawmakers cited the extent of the state's transportation crisis — everything from the rickety Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle to interminable congestion on Interstate 405 to the dangerous curves of Highway 12 in Walla Walla.

Rep. Beverly Woods, the ranking Republican on the House Transportation committee, reminded Wilbur that infrastructure investment is a Republican principle. Remember President Eisenhower's advocacy of the interstate highway system? the Kingston lawmaker asked.

I hope Washington voters get that message. They should refuse to sign I-912 and reject it if it makes the ballot.

Kate, I sincerely hope that Washington voters do take that message to heart. We cannot wait for the Viaduct to pancake or the 520 bridge to sink before we address the problems that we know lay ahead. In this light I strongly recommend you vote against this initiative, should it make the ballot, and I recommend you visit the Washington Defense Web site dedicated to fighting for the survival of the landmark Transportation Plan passed this Spring with bipartisan support.

As residents of this great state we have a responsibility to maintain the transportation infrastructure that keeps us all moving forward toward a better future, and this initiative would simply and unequivocally kill the widely supported plan needed to ensure that.

Update: If you are an early bird, try to catch the Kirby Wilbur show at 6am Wednesday morning when he will be talking to Andrew Villeneuve regarding Washington Defense and the initiative. (nwphtt50)