Times/News

What's driving [the Initiative 912] campaign is ... an anger about the arrogant, out-of-control culture of the Democratic aristocracy that runs the state of Washington. People are just sick of it.

State Republican Party

Chairman Chris Vance

As rhetoric opposing Initiative 912 piles up, voters need to step back and ask what this media-driven hysteria is all about.

The recent flurry of news reports and editorials against I-912 looks a lot like a coordinated attack on the grass-roots move to repeal the 9.5 cents per gallon gasoline tax increase foisted on motorists by the Legislature last spring.

Last week, the Burien City Council, motivated by local development needs joined ranks with those wanting to retain the higher tax.

If we accept anti-912 claims by the media, our state's economy is doomed and needed transportation improvements will gridlock from lack of funding should Washington voters be so foolish as to nullify the 33 percent tax hike

At this point, an amusing anecdote that was e-mailed to me last week may prove insightful.

"A little boy wanted $100 very badly and prayed for weeks, but nothing happened. Then he decided to write God a letter requesting the $100.

"When the postal service received his letter to 'God, USA,' managers decided to send it to the president.

"The president was so amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5 bill. The president thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy. And the little boy was delighted with the $5 bill.

"He then wrote a thank-you note to God, which read, 'Dear God, Thank you very much for sending the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you sent it through Washington, D.C., and those jerks deducted $95 in taxes'"

This underscores with humor a point Washington State Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance made in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last week: Olympia is a large part of the tax-and-spend problem.

Make no mistake. We need to spend billions of dollars on transportation improvements to reduce congestion, improve freight mobility and upgrade traffic safety.

Most (though admittedly not all) critics of this gas hike will support funding for concrete plans to meet transportation needs with realistic projects - and with responsible revenue management.

That is what's lacking in the current gas tax hike, and that's why so many people are backing this measure.

A resounding 'yes' vote for I-912 will tell the Legislature to try again come January. A one-year delay should not imperil the state.

Hopefully, our lawmakers can get it right next time.

At a time when Burien and Des Moines are searching for catalysts for local economic growth, Bellevue business leader Kemper Freeman Jr. affords a dynamic example for these communities.

Mr. Freeman is something of an anomaly - a son who took over his father's business and actually made it better, bigger and more profitable.

Since Kemper Freeman Sr. handed him the reins of Bellevue Square, he has more than doubled the size of this prestigious shopping mall and added Bellevue Place to the Eastside's largest city.

This creative entrepreneurship, combined with a commitment to community, is what these two Highline cities need.

Burien is developing a Town Square, which backers hope will spur new economic growth downtown that will spread throughout the community.

Des Moines has a marina, which needs to be tapped to bring new life to that downtown business district.

So close geographically that they are almost "twin cities," the Burien and Des Moines business communities should partner rather than compete by combining their strengths to create a dynamic small-business magnet in Southwest King County.

A key to this, of course, is the private sector. Business, not government, generates economic growth.

It's time for Highline business leaders in the mold of Kemper Freeman Jr. to step up and make it happen.

Ralph Nichols views are his own, and do not necessarily reflect those of Robinson Newspapers. Nichols may be reached at newsdesk@robinsonnews.com or at 206-444-4873.