Republicans, Rossi Back I-912

Well the Rossi vigil can come to an end, as we now know where he and his party stands:

Washington State Republicans are endorsing Initiative 912, the measure that would repeal the state's latest gas tax. The legislature increased the gas tax 9 cents per gallon earlier this year to fund new transportation projects. Now an effort to repeal the tax is on the ballot through I-912. Critics of the tax say gas prices are too high and repealing the tax will help consumers save money at the pump.

Pretty amazing. Dino Rossi supported the most recent nickel gas tax increase, and ran for Governor on a pro-business platform. Yet, this initiative, opposed by businesses across the state because it will set back road work improvements by years, if not decades, appears to be the stuff Republicans have decided to champion, thereby thumbing their collective noses at the support the business community has traditionally given to the GOP.

Of course, for my part, I believe I-912 is something all Washingtonians should be against, not just business leaders. We have hundreds of transportation project needs that are in desperate need of money, and this initiative simply cuts off the largest source of funding available to them. For mere pennies we could raise billions of dollars that will fully fund 241 projects, and partially fund the mega-projects that need the money to position them to a level that they can be considered realistic endeavors, as opposed to simply necessary, yet unfunded pipe-dreams. For example, the tax that I-912 would cut would raise 50 to 65 percent of the money needed to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

I-912 now not only looks like it will kill a plethora of important safety improvement and congestion relief projects if it passes, but it now appears it may kill the political future of Dino Rossi, whether it passes or not. As the de facto leader of the Republican party, there is no chance that this endorsement does not have his blessing, and if so he will surely face a political backlash from the business community that he and his party have now decided they are willing to stab in the back.