I'm voting no. Partly because it's an Eyman initiative, but mainly because it's bad legislation. I value the initiative process because sometimes that's the only way to get the Legislature's attention. However, I don't think something as complex as tax law is well suited to Eyman's initiatives.

The Gov and the Legislature are going to be in a really tough spot. Revenues are down because income and spending are down. Gregoire herself said a year ago that raising taxes was the wrong strategy when the economy was tanking. If she thinks differently this year, I'm all ears to hear and understand the rationale.

The State may have to cut some critical services for the simple reason that it cannot afford them all at this time. Maybe the Legislature needs to do the hard work of looking again at some of the fiscal obligations it has legislated when times were better. That's hard ugly work; I expect more hot air than action.

Sg