Permanent Offense files new initiative - Transportation Choices Initiative (TCI) improves & finances transportation without a tax increase

"The Transportation Choices Initiative (TCI) generates twice the tax revenue, no debt, long-overdue accountability, and better utilization of existing road capacity - all without a tax increase." Eyman declares

Olympia , WA - - 7/22/02 -Showing the stamina of thoroughbred racehorses, the chairmen of Permanent Offense on Tuesday will file a new initiative that improves and finances transportation without a tax increase.  Providing voters with an alternative to the politicians' massive transportation tax increase on the November ballot, the Transportation Choices Initiative - TCI offers a comprehensive, bold package:

· TCI improves and finances transportation by requiring existing vehicle sales taxes be spent on road construction and maintenance.  Over the years, several bills have been introduced in the Legislature to accomplish this common sense policy change.  TCI gives voters the choice.
· TCI improves and finances transportation by removing the handcuffs on our state auditor so he can do the job he's elected to do:  conduct independent, comprehensive performance audits on state and local transportation agencies and programs.  State Auditor Brian Sonntag has been pursuing this goal for years but has been blocked by the Legislature and the Governor.  TCI gives voters the choice.
· TCI improves and finances transportation by opening carpool lanes to all during off-peak hours.  Over the years, several bills have been introduced in the Legislature to accomplish this common sense policy change.  TCI gives voters the choice.
· TCI's title is identical to the legislature's Referendum 51 title:
"AN ACT Relating to transportation improvements and financing."  Because initiatives, referendums, and bills must all comply with the single subject rule, TCI follows this principle exactly as Referendum 51 does. As with Referendum 51, TCI's single subject is improving and financing transportation.

Tim Eyman, lead spokesman for the Transportation Choices Initiative (TCI), released the following statement:

"Voters deserve a choice.  Our new initiative gives voters a common sense alternative to Referendum 51, the politicians' massive transportation tax increase on the November ballot.  Compared to R-51, the Transportation Choices Initiative (TCI) generates twice the tax
revenue, no debt, long-overdue accountability, and better utilization of existing road capacity - all without a tax increase.  TCI improves and finances transportation without a tax increase.  Polling shows that 70% of likely voters support TCI."

"When we submitted the signatures for I-776 in early July, we said that thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our thousands of supporters statewide, there was no limit to what we could accomplish in the future.  The challenges facing the signature gathering drive for TCI are
substantial, but frankly, they are nothing compared to the challenges we faced together with I-776.  Let's go to work.  Voters deserve a choice and only Permanent Offense can give it to them."

The Transportation Choices Initiative (TCI) is an Initiative to the Legislature and is required to submit 197,734 valid signatures by the end of December.  In 1999, we managed to get 514,000 signatures for I-695 (2nd highest number in state history), over 270,000 signatures for I-722 in 2000, over 290,000 for last year's I-747, and over 260,000 for this year's I-776.  I-695 & I-722 passed 56%-44% and last year's I-747 passed 58%-42%.  Over the past 5 years, we have sponsored 5 tax initiatives (I-691, I-695, I-722, I-747, & I-776).  Of those 5, we've managed to get enough signatures to qualify 4 tax initiatives for the
ballot (I-695, I-722, I-747, & I-776).  Of the 3 tax initiatives that have been voted on, 3 have been approved by the voters (I-695, I-722, & I-747).  If voters approve I-776 in November, that'll be 4 victories in 4 years.

Transportation Choices Initiative (TCI) · PO Box 6131 · Kennewick · WA · 99336
Ph: 425-493-8707 · FAX: 509-467-4323 · www.permanent-offense.org ·
info@permanent-offense.org

     Polling shows that 70% of likely voters support TCI

Washington Survey conducted 06/28/02, 06/29/02
The Lucas Organization
571 Likely Voters
Margin of Sampling Error +/-4.1 percentage points
with a 95% level of confidence

1. Another initiative will be filed soon which is intended to be an
alternative to the transportation tax increase on the November ballot.
Supporters of this alternative say that during these tough economic
times, all other options must be exhausted before tax increases are even
considered.  This measure provides voters with transportation choices
and offers traffic relief and improved roads without a tax increase. Let
me read you the initiative's ballot title:

This measure would require sales taxes generated from vehicle purchases
be spent on roads (pause); repeal sales tax surcharges on vehicles
(pause); require performance audits on transportation agencies (pause);
and open carpool lanes during off-peak hours.

    gender
    men women Grand Total
strongly favor 1 41.4% 38.5% 39.9%
probably favor 2 25.2% 34.3% 29.8%
probably oppose 3 15.1% 12.1% 13.6%
strongly oppose 4 18.3% 15.1% 16.7%
  Grand Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

    age
    18 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 64 65+ Grand Total
strongly favor 1 36.9% 43.0% 37.6% 42.5% 39.7% 39.9%
probably favor 2 25.8% 21.0% 38.6% 30.4% 34.9% 29.8%
probably oppose 3 10.7% 15.4% 13.7% 13.2% 15.2% 13.6%
strongly oppose 4 26.6% 20.5% 10.0% 13.9% 10.2% 16.7%
  Grand Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

    race
    white other Grand Total
strongly favor 1 38.9% 45.8% 39.9%
probably favor 2 30.4% 26.7% 29.8%
probably oppose 3 13.8% 12.0% 13.6%
strongly oppose 4 16.9% 15.5% 16.7%
  Grand Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

    party
    GOP Dem other Grand Total
strongly favor 1 49.6% 37.0% 33.4% 39.9%
probably favor 2 31.6% 20.9% 35.6% 29.8%
probably oppose 3 10.9% 16.3% 13.8% 13.6%
strongly oppose 4 7.9% 25.7% 17.2% 16.7%
  Grand Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

The Lucas Organization * PO Box 242156 Charlotte NC 28224-2156
phone# 919-280-4342 * fax# 704-843-5731* e-mail:
alanlindsay@mindspring.com