Front Page     News     Election     Opinion     A & E     Fluffy     Sports     Back Page     Archive     Staff     Contact

OTHER OPINIONS - It's election time, Seattle-style - Candidates - US Representative, Seventh Cong. District - Candidates - State Representative, 34th, 36th, 37th, 46th Leg. District - Candidates - State Senator, 34th, 36th, 37th, 46th Leg. District Initiatives, Measures, and Bills, oh my! INITIATIVE MEASURE 776 I-776 seeks to change the language of Washington state laws pertaining to government-imposed charges on motor vehicles from "license tab fees shall be thirty dollars" to "license tab fees are required to be thirty dollars." The change in language usurps the authority of municipalities to impose higher taxes and fees associated with license tabs. Certain local vehicle excise taxes and fees used for roads and transit would be repealed. INITIATIVE MEASURE 790 I-790 concerns the management of law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system, plan 2. The initiative would create a board of trustees consisting of six plan participants, three employer representatives and two legislators. REFERENDUM BILL 51 R-51 seeks to increase highway capacity, public transportation, passenger and freight rail. To do this, it proposes increased taxes and fees. R-51 also proposes increased accountability for the allocation of those funds. Increased fuel excise taxes, sales taxes on vehicles and weight fees on trucks and large vehicles finance the Bill's goals. REFERENDUM MEASURE 53 R-53 would revise laws regarding unemployment insurance for employers. The Referendum would establish new employer rate classes, increasing some taxable wage bases and imposing surcharges if certain contingencies occur. © 2002 Shoreline Community College™