the wrong reasons, but please do vote for it for the right reasons. I feel the the $30 lic tab is the least important reason to vote for I-695, but the second part, being that any new or raised taxes will have to done with voter approval. Another a reason to vote for I-695 is to make an attempt to get the bureaucrats in Olympia to listen to the voters. An example of their lack of listening is now preparing to drive the desolate roads of Okanogan County. In May of '97 an attempt at public transportation was voted down with a 67% no vote, in May of '98 the local paper, front page reads " Buses roll in demo project". Is seems that five local bus supporters requested a $300,000.00 grant to put buses on the road, to show the voters that they did not mean NO when they voted. WSDOT provided this money from your MVET for two yrs, then we will be asked to pick up the tab in the form of increased sales tax. When I asked WSDOT how I might object to the grant being awarded, they first did not know how someone would go about objecting to such a thing, but seemed to more confused as to why someone would object so such a minute amount of money being spent. I talked to a WSDOT person in Olympia and she explained to me that $300,000.00, in the scheme of the state budget, was like an ink dot on a poster board. It was not worth the time to object so such a small amount to money.(obvious is was not her money) My point being, vote for I-695 to tell the bureaucrats to cut spending intead of raising taxes to balance the state budget. In our part of the state I dare say there are few people who have not experienced a decrease of income much greater than 2% in the past few years, now its time for the state to share the joy of living within their means for a change.

-- rons (ron1@televar.com), August 13, 1999

Answers

I have been shouting, rantiing and raving while ppulling my hair out about this very thing. It is not their money that they are spending and I wish someone would explain to government that just because they have the money does not mean that they can just dip in and go hog wild with it. They expect us to live within certain bounds, when we don't and can't pay our bills we get things repossessed and I think it is about time that government had to live under those rules as well. "Here is our contribution to keep this state going. This is how much you have and no more. If you can't spend within this limitthen we are afraid that you are out and we will repossess your seat in Olympia and fill it with someone who can work within the budget." This is the message that we should be sending them. I for one am tired of paying for parties and flights and dinners and who knows what all else!!! Kudos to you sir!!!

-- mijelasa lewis (mijelasa@wa.freei.net), August 23, 1999.