NFIB

Initiative 791's Call for Fiscal Sanity Wins Backing of Washington Small Biz
05/22/2002

Ballot measure gets big boost from the 17,000-member state chapter of NFIB

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2002 -- The organization representing Washington state's largest employer, small business, today announced its official endorsement of Initiative 791, a November ballot measure that, if passed, would restore the fiscal sanity provisions of Initiative 601, which the legislature has eroded.

I-791 was supported by 85 percent of NFIB/Washington members polled and won the unanimous backing of the group's leadership council at a special meeting last week.

"We must vote to reinstate spending limits since our legislature has demonstrated blatant disregard for them," said Betty Neighbors, owner of the Everett-based employment agency, Terra Resources Group.

If passed by voters, I-791 would restore the two-thirds vote requirement on the legislature if it sought tax increases, restore the state's spending limit based on population and inflation formulas, create a rainy-day fund of five percent for emergencies, and call for a vote of the people for spending in excess of the limits.

All of I-791's goals were originally found in Initiative 601, which was passed by the voters in 1993. Many attribute I-601's restraints on the legislature for successfully steering Washington state through the turbulent times of the mid- to late-90s. Since then, however, lawmakers have circumvented the thrust of the measure through 'off-budget' accounts and suspension of the two-thirds requirement. I-791 would put it all back.

Bellevue small-business owner Scottie Marable, owner of Pinnacle Marketing, called I-791 "the correct approach to making our government work within realistic financial boundaries, much like Initiative 601 did before it was eliminated by the legislature.

Hal Palmer concurs. The Longview owner of Palmer Development Group said, "If government can't control spending like businesses must everyday, then we need I-791.

NFIB/Washington is currently conducting a signature-gathering drive among its member to make certain I-791 qualifies for the November ballot.

CONTACT: Carolyn Logue 360.789.3491 or Anthony Malandra 415.664.9685