Voters’ yes to gas tax increase a jolt to many

OLYMPIA – With the surprise failure of a gas tax rollback, Washington voters reversed a recent trend of anti-tax votes, signaling they’re willing to reach deeper into their pockets to pay, at least for roads.

In the past few years, voters have shot down everything from a sales tax increase for education to approving ballot measures capping car tabs at $30 and limiting property taxes. In caffeine-driven Seattle two years ago, voters rejected a proposed 10-cent tax on their espresso drinks that would have paid for preschool and day care programs.

House transportation chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said it was remarkable that voters sustained the gas tax increase, and that it may reflect a change in attitudes.

“This is one of the biggest political stories of the year, if not the decade,” Murray said. “Despite the high cost of gas, people were willing to keep a gas-tax increase. Simply being anti-tax will not be a winning argument for the far right.”

But Republicans said people shouldn’t read too much into the failure of Initiative 912.

“This doesn’t signal: ‘Hey come after our wallet,’ ” said Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, ranking Republican on the budget panel. “The big change was the way the campaign was run. Everybody received information on what this increase would buy at the local level. People were able to put a face on it. That’s what turned the tide at the end of the day.”

Voters rejected the opportunity to roll back the state’s recently enacted 9 1/2-cent-a-gallon gas tax increase.

The initiative’s backers argued that the largest highway tax hike in state history was an ill-considered, bloated plan that won’t fix congestion. Opponents argued eliminating $5.5 billion in new tax money amounted to scrapping plans for 274 crucial road and bridge projects, including Seattle’s quake-damaged Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Gas tax foes conceded Wednesday after seeing returns showing them losing, 53 percent to 47 percent.

“If they had taken the vote when it first came out, there would have been a knee-jerk reaction against it,” said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam. “There was enough time for people to read about it and listen. God love our electorate, they were listening.”

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, agreed.

“When you have a direct conversation with citizens about what’s at stake, people can make a pretty good judgment,” said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown.

Even so, the repeal measure only failed in 11 of the state’s 39 counties, including liberal-leaning King County, which contains a third of the state’s voters. Only two counties in historically conservative Eastern Washington voted to retain the tax.

“It was not an overwhelming rejection,” said Brett Bader, organizer of initiative. “I think it’s hard to look at that result and think some massive sea change has occurred.”

And lawmakers aren’t in a rush to try their hand and see if voters would be open to additional taxes.

“People still hate taxes,” said House Finance Chairman Jim McIntire, D-Seattle. “I don’t think the voters are in the mood to say yes to every tax proposal put in front of them.

“The Democrats are fully cognizant of how people feel about taxes,” he said. “We’ve been reluctant to talk about raising taxes. I don’t see a particular need right now.”

Tim Eyman, who has made his reputation running anti-tax initiatives, said I-912 forced lawmakers to defend their vote for the $5.5 billion tax increase and the project list.

“I’ve always said that they should ask our permission when they want to raise taxes and make coherent arguments about why it is necessary,” he said. “With 912, a public vote was forced and they actually made coherent arguments and they won. Often – too often, in my opinion – voters will approve taxes.”