The good, the pretty good, and the won't-hurt-ya

What's more, the initiative also mandates a costly and unwieldy system of putting every increase in taxes, fees, or other government charges to a public vote. If you're a radical tax-cutter and want to cause problems for government while enriching yourself, this is the ballot measure for you. If you care about fixing roads, supporting public transit, and maintaining an effective government, your obvious vote is NO.

INITIATIVE 696, BAN ALL NETS

Both proponents and opponents of the "Ban All Nets" oversimplify the current crisis for wild salmon and other fish stocks. The yeas, mostly sports-fishing interests, portray it as a problem of commercial overharvesting, which their initiative would solve at a stroke. The commercial fishers and their environmentalist allies argue that degraded habitat is the real cause, which I-696 wouldn't touch. The problem is both, along with hydro and hatchery pressures on wild runs. By wiping out what's left of the commercial fishery, I-696 would relieve some pressure on some stocks and perhaps encourage more sensible state regulation. But it would largely (and unfairly) reallocate the commercial share to sports and tribal fishers, while doing nothing to limit their take. And it would give development and hydropower interests, eager supporters of 696, ammunition to use against watershed protection and dam reforms. We might support a commercial and sports fishing moratorium, or more focused bans on the most indiscriminate fisheries—a smarter, fairer version of the old I-640. But this ain't it. Vote NO.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8206

Take money from Wall Street and give it to Main street. This measure would allow the state to guarantee school bonds, saving districts across the state money on bond insurance. Voting yes is a no-brainer.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8208

This is a measure that sounds riskier than it is. It would allow the state to invest a portion of its rainy day fund in the stock market. True, a deflation in this giddy market is bound to come. But the funds to be invested are part of a "restricted" account that requires a two-thirds vote by the legislature to be used. In other words, it ain't gonna happen any time soon. So the money is going to sit somewhere for the long term. Might as well be in the stock market. We already play the market with state pension and workers' compensation funds. Vote YES.

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