As a weekly service, I'm going to post the latest "mis"-efforts of the unions of this state in their desperate attempt to keep their rank and file in line for THIS election... as they failed to do in the LAST election (i.e. I-200, R-49, roundly condemned by almost all unions, and roundly supported by almost ALL rank and file)

This week's truth-twister is a product of that famous wrapper of fish and liner of bird-cages, the publication "Washington State Employee." Typical of their absolutely unbiased presentations, this instant article, a lie by ommission, is of the style so beloved by the union propagandists.

Proving that they are determined to be as delusional about this initiative as they have been about so many others, we are regaled with this week's tripe (from the August 99 issue)

Spewed by Tim Welch, fantisizer (whoops... I mean, EDITOR) of this rag, we learn:

"* The 62 year old law creating the motor vehicle excise tax exempted cars from property taxes. Up to 1937, motor vehicles were subjected to property taxes. Repealing the motor vehicle excise tax COULD (my emphasis) put those property taxes back on motor vehicles."

HHHmmm..... I search every column inch printed in this toilet, ahem, paper... and you know what I DON'T see?

An acknowledgement that even if the property tax IS applied to cars (which many doubt, but this is not the place for that discussion) the rate would drop from 2.2% to 1.4% or less, a reduction of over 30% from the current rate!!!! (Thus, the lie by ommission)

My simple question: Why leave it out?

I mean, the unions wouldn't want their people to take a political position without ALL of the information available... would they?

Or is this yet ANOTHER example that the opposition would do ANYTHING to keep this from passing... including deceiving the rank and file?

You be the judge.

Next week, the "Contrary to helping the `little guy,' I-695 would appear to benefit fat cats and luxury car dealers" lie.

Westin

"Gee... who wrote that book? ... was it Karl, Groucho or Zeppo?" (Lou Ferrell "On Marx and the Beginning of the Union 'B' Movement" - 1973 - Aschaffenburg Press)

-- Westin (86se4sp@my-deja.com), August 20, 1999

Answers

The mayor of Indianapolis has cut taxes dramatically while improving services. He has done so in complete harmony with labor unions. Costs to taxpayers can be cut while improving services while not impacting union jobs. Mayor Stephen Goldsmith's principles can be applied to Washington State to cut the cost of state government by much more than the revenue loss of the MVET, without cutting any services. Just cut the waste.

-- Art Rathjen (liberty@coastaccess.com), August 22, 1999.