While most of the state's newspaper editorial boards are worried sick that I-1033 will impoverish our state and local governments, two newstories today should give every Washington voter good enough reason to approve the initiative. Exhibit A is this article from the Puget Sound Business Journal revealing the results of a new study from the Tax Foundation that names Washington State as having the nation's third highest local and state tax rate. 

Yes, it's painful to have to complete projects and serve the public on a limited budget. Why should the government have a blank check from the citizens when the citizens are having to make difficult choices for their families and homes with their own funding limitations in the form of unemployment, underemployment and tightening budgets?

We are currently paying for our son's college education, which means we have to make choices every month. Maybe we put off replacing the twenty year old tub in the upstairs bathroom, or maybe we keep driving our ten year old car with almost 200,000 miles on it for a little longer. Maybe we actually have to eat out at restaurants less often and choose less expensive restaurants. It's called tough medicine for tough times. I suggest the state and local governments get used to what we are all having to work with these days. It's called a tight budget and it's just a reality.

Are you worried the state is already having to make too many sacrifices? I submit to you Exhibit B, this article from the Tacoma News Tribune: State pays $200,000 to consultants to devise a hospital tax proposal. I think perhaps their view of sacrifice might be different from ours.