Our state constitution guarantees to the people the right of referendum. And I-960 was enacted by the voters of Washington State to curb rampant "out-of-control spending." Like a runaway train without an engineer, our state is governing without leadership.

This is the reason so many more voters are showing up on the steps of the state Capitol Building in protest. Not only are the voters angry about spending, which has increased 31 percent since the 2003-05 budget, but also general state spending is up $7.2 billion, despite all the talk about a $9 billion shortfall.

The state is tethering on bankruptcy, and Moody's Investors Service is now listing Washington's credit rating as 'Negative' in the bond market, but Olympia cannot stop spending. And unknown to most voters is that Washington State ranks second highest in State General Tax Collections per capita (2007) as of the last U.S. Census, amounting to $1,691 per person-more than twice the national average.

In an economy with 8 million jobless (more than the populations of Washington State and most of Oregon) since December 2007, our Governor and Legislators have not only proposed more taxes, but they have gutted I-960's mandate requiring a 2/3 supermajority vote, making it even easier for our Legislators to raise taxes.

As of Feb. 23, 2009 the State House proposed a $1.5 billion supplemental spending increase while the State Senate proposed $1.4 billion.

Adding insult to injury, these numbers can only spell hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes.

Ray Scheppack, executive director of the National Governors Association for the last 27 years, recently warned states that they will have to "downsize permanently" because this isn't an ordinary downturn, but our Governor isn't listening.

Voters, it's time to send another message to our Governor and Legislators by:

1. Signing the new proposed voter's initiative I-1053 to reinstate the 2/3's vote for tax increases,

2. Making your vote count in November for I-1053, and

3. Voting out any member of the Legislature who has blatantly ignored the will of the people.

Fred Novota
Burien