Tim Eyman, prime sponsor of Initiative 1033, which would limit the growth of tax collections for cities, counties and the state, says a Sept. 22 poll shows 61 percent of likely voters favor his ballot measure.

September 29, 2009

To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc’d to the media, house & senate members, and Governor)

From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, co-sponsors of the Lower Property Taxes Initiative I-1033

RE: Poll by Rasmussen Reports on I-1033: 61% yes, 31% no, 8% undecided (remember, those undecided’s gotta go somewhere)

It’s clear that voters are rejecting the multi-million-dollar, Washington-DC-funded “con” campaign by opponents of I-1033 — the initiative leads by 30 points with just a few weeks left to go. The poll by Rasmussen Reports, taken on September 22nd, shows support at 61% yes, 31% no, 8% undecided. Here’s what 500 likely voters were asked:

A statewide initiative will be on the ballot this November. We’d like to ask if you support it or not:

The initiative concerns state, county and city revenue. Here is the ballot title: This measure would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property tax levies. Do you definitely favor, probably favor, probably oppose, or definitely oppose this initiative?

21% Definitely favor
40% Probably favor
17% Probably oppose
14% Definitely oppose
8% Not sure

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/ 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

VARIOUS DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWNS (CALLED “CROSSTABS”) ARE ATTACHED — THERE’S SOME REALLY FASCINATING RESULTS THERE.

Just to show how accurate Rasmussen is with their polling, their results on Initiative 960 two years ago perfectly predicted the measure’s election outcome (51%-49%). Here’s the results of their September 26, 2007 poll among 500 likely voters: 51% yes, 39% no, 9% not sure (18% definitely favor, 33% probably favor, 22% probably oppose, 17% definitely oppose). Despite opponents spending $1.3 million over the subsequent weeks saying I-960 was ‘just like Colorado’s TABOR’, the numbers didn’t move an inch. With I-1033 starting 10 points higher (61% versus 51%), we’re feeling really good about I-1033′s prospects with voters in November.

It’s clear that voters are savvy enough to see through opponents’ threats, lies, and scare tactics on I-1033. Voters are clearly rejecting their “con” campaign and strongly supporting I-1033′s policies of fiscal discipline and property tax relief. Voters understand that the private sector, not the public sector, creates the jobs that will drive Washington’s economic recovery. Voters know that anything but an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote for I-1033 will be seen by politicians as the people’s endorsement of higher taxes. Voters realize that I-1033 is their only opportunity for a break on their crushing property tax burden. Opponents certainly have the best “con” campaign money can buy but apparently, voters aren’t buyin’ it.

We have faith in the common sense of the average taxpayer to see through opponents’ threats, lies and scare tactics.

Yesterday (Monday, September 28th), opponents reached $889,455.80, snagging the lion’s share of their dirty money from Washington DC’s public employee unions ($100,000 from WA DC’s AFSCME, $100,000 from WA DC’s SEIU, $78,600 from WA DC’s NEA, $112,500 from the Washington Council of County and City Employees). Opponents will get $2 million from Washington DC and are getting $1 million from Washington state’s public employee unions. $3 million to oppose I-1033, the lion’s share from public employee unions (if we ever got even a fraction of this amount from outside the state, it would be considered scandalous). Frankly, the members of these unions are not being well-served by their leaders because their leaders consistently ignore the fact that their members are taxpayers just like everyone else — they need and deserve property tax relief, they’re constantly getting screwed over by politicians creating unsustainable budgets and the fiscal roller coaster. There’s a whole lot of public employee union members who will enthusiastically vote for I-1033 in November.

Interestingly, the poll by Rasmussen Reports tracks very closely to a recent poll conducted by I-1033′s opponents which shows I-1033′s support at 58%. With some heavy-handed “push polling”, they got it down to 51% (a member of their coalition reported the poll’s results to us).

And Stuart Elway’s polling, which has consistently understated the level of voter support our measures get on election day, shows I-1033 leading by 24 points. His September poll shows I-1033 at 46% yes, 22% no, 32% undecided (again, those undecided’s gotta go somewhere).

I-1033 is, by far, our most needed and most popular initiative to date. I-1033 brings back I-601′s fiscal discipline, gets government off the fiscal roller coaster by allowing sustainable growth, maintains I-601′s safety valve allowing faster government growth with voter approval, and provides a long-overdue reduction in our state’s crushing property tax burden.

Most persuasive of all: our opponents have no alternative. No alternative way to lower property taxes, no alternative way to get government off the fiscal roller coaster, no alternative way to stop politicians from unilaterally increasing taxes and fees which would only hurt our economy and extend the recession. All of the opponents of I-1033 want higher taxes. They all want a state income tax. I-1033′s opponents think that Washington’s citizens are UNDERTAXED?!!? Opponents are against I-1033 because it lets the people, and not the politicians, decide how fast government will grow and how big a tax burden we can afford.

We’re very proud of the 315,000 citizens who signed I-1033′s petitions. We believe they spoke for the majority of Washington’s voters and support I-1033′s renewal of I-601, I-1033′s reduction in property taxes, and I-1033′s empowerment of the citizens to decide how fast the government should grow and how big a tax burden we can afford.

FULL STEAM AHEAD!

Best Regards, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan