GOP likes I-747

BRAD SHANNON, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- The Washington state Republican party formally endorsed Tim Eyman's latest property tax initiative Saturday.

Members of the party's executive board voted overwhelmingly to support Initiative 747 during their meeting in Olympia.

"It's everything in keeping with what the Republican party is about," explained Chris Vance, state party chairman.

The initiative will let people keep more of what they earn, he said.

Initiative 747 would limit annual increases in property tax levies to 1 percent, unless voters specifically approve a larger hike.

Eyman, who had a previous property tax rollback measure overturned in court, called the GOP endorsement "a really big deal."

It comes early, while supporters are still gathering signatures to qualify it for the Nov. 6 ballot, he said. It also comes with a promise of GOP resources.

It needs nearly 200,000 signatures of registered voters by July 6 to qualify. The Republicans will use party resources to assist Eyman, Vance said, but "we won't write a huge check for the campaign."

More likely, the party will put the word out about the initiative and urge voters to sign it at booths the party maintains at county fairs during the summer, Vance said.

Eyman refused to say how many signatures he has, but said he has raised $172,000 of the $300,000 he thinks he'll need to get the initiative on the ballot.

Brad Shannon, political editor for The Olympian, can be reached at 753-1688.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

back to main Legislature 2001 index