I-912's defeat bodes well for state's future
Thursday, November 10, 2005 9:00 AM PST
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E-mail this articleTuesday's off-year election delivered a few surprises, both locally and statewide. John Karnofski's successful bid to replace popular incumbent Jack Keolker on the Kelso City Council had to raise a few eyebrows. Most post-election talk, however, has dealt with the rejection of Initiative 912, the ballot measure that would have rolled back a 9.5-cent-a-gallon gas tax increase.
Word of I-912's defeat seemed to come as a surprise to supporters and opponents alike. Although many had predicted a close vote, the conventional wisdom was that the spike in gasoline prices over the summer months had all but assured the repeal of the gas tax increase.
That most voters defied conventional wisdom and opted instead to get to work on long overdue transportation repairs and improvements bodes well for the state's economic future. The failed ballot measure would have gutted the Legislature's $8.5 billion, 16-year transportation package. Some $5.5 billion worth of road and bridge projects statewide would have to be postponed indefinitely.
Failing to make this investment in the state's transportation infrastructure would have been penny wise and pound foolish. A majority of voters apparently made that calculation. As one very young voter, 18-year-old Katie Hoffman of Seattle, told Associated Press writer David Ammons, "The amount of money I spend on gas sitting in traffic going nowhere is definitely more than I pay at the pump (with the additional gas tax)."
The cost of gridlock in the Puget Sound area may not be so readily apparent to motorists in less congested parts of the state might. But when traffic slows to a crawl in that important center of economic activity, everyone's pocketbook is threatened. Businesses that cannot move their products quickly or safely become less competitive. Some pack up and move out of state. Others that may be thinking of moving into the state have second thoughts.
This state's deteriorating transportation infrastructure has become a huge disincentive for businesses considering a move to Washington. It's caused many existing businesses to grow their companies outside of the state.
Not surprisingly, business and labor leaders have been the strongest proponents of the partial transportation fix approved in Olympia during the 2005 session. They understand that this investment is about staying competitive. It's about economic growth and jobs.
Tuesday election result with regard to I-912 is good evidence that most Washingtonians share that understanding.
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