Finally, here's a straightforward policy measure. I-729 seeks to make setting up alternative public schools easier. It's a harmless, small-scale bill, even though opponents unconvincingly argue that it would lead to the death of public education as we know it and proponents laughably suggest it would reinvigorate the schools through competition. Yeah, right. Vote yes and watch the issue fade from view.
State Initiative 732 (Teacher pay raises)
It's impressive I-732's backers claim this is the only measure placed on the 2000 ballot through all-volunteer signature-gathering. Actually, considering teachers have all summer off and this initiative seeks to raise their pay, maybe it's not that impressive. But we digress: I-732 grants cost-of-living increases to all employees of public school districts (and community college districts), with salaries rising annually at a generous rate of inflation. It's a $420 million budget buster especially when combined with all the other initiatives, past and present that constrain and control our state budget. If teachers need a raise, we need to find a fiscally responsible way to do it. Clearly, it's time to blow the ridiculous lid (imposed by an initiative naturally) off state spending to do it, not add to Olympia's monetary chaos by passing another initiative. Vote no.
State Initiative 745 (More roads, less transit)
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The big gun in Tim Eyman's 2000 arsenal is aimed at our buses. I-745 would require that 90 percent of all transportation funding be used for road construction and maintenance. Bought and paid for by the asphalt pavers, the effect of this initiative would be to slash funding for public transit—a dismal prospect for Seattle, the state's most transit-dependent city. It's a truly frightening formula for more roads, more sprawl, more pollution, and worse traffic. Vote no.
Short Sheet
President: Al Gore (D)
US Senate: Maria Cantwell (D)
Congress
1st District: Jay Inslee (D)
7th District: Joe Szwaja (Grn)
8th District: Heidi Behrens-Benedict (D)
9th District: Adam Smith (D)
Governor: Gary Locke (D)
Lieutenant Governor: Ruth Bennett (Lib)
Secretary of State: Sam Reed (R)
State Treasurer: Mike Murphy (D)
State Auditor: Brian Sonntag (D)
Attorney General: Christine Gregoire (D)
Commissioner of Public Lands: Mike Lowry (D)
Insurance Commissioner: Mike Kreidler (D)
State Supreme Court, Position 2: Susan Owens (NP)
State Supreme Court, Position 9: jim Foley (NP)
State Senator 11th District: Margarita Prentice (D)
State Rep. 11th District, Position 1: Eileen Cody (D)
State Rep. 11th District, Position 2: Velma Veloria (D)
State Senator 34th District: Dow Constantine (D)
State Rep. 34th District, Position 1: Erik Poulsen (D)
State Rep. 34th District, Position 2: Joe McDermott (D)
State Senator 36th District: Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D)
State Rep. 36th District, Position 1: Helen Sommers (D)
State Rep. 36th District, Position 2: Mary Lou Dickerson (D)
State Rep. 37th District, Position 1: Sharon Tomiko Santos (D)
State Rep. 37th District, Position 2: Kip Tokuda (D)
State Rep. 46th District, Position 1: Jim McIntire (D)
State Rep. 46th District, Position 2: phyllis kenney (D)
State Initiative 713 (Ban trapping): Vote No
State Initiative 722 (Property tax cut): Vote No
State Initiative 728 (Class size reduction): Vote No
State Initiative 729 (Charter Schools): Vote Yes
State Initiative 732 (Teachers' COLA): Vote No
State Initiative 745 (More roads, less transit): Vote No
SJ Res. 8214 (developmental disabilities fund): Vote Yes
King County Court, Position 11: Robert Bryan (NP)
King County Prop. 1 (Money for Metro transit): Vote Yes
Seattle Prop. 1 (Parks for all): Vote Yes
Seattle Prop. 2 (Initiative 53, Monorail): Vote Yes
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