We endorse: Mark ‘maintain’ on tax advisory votes, and don’t waste much time doing it

South Sound voters are quickly setting a record pace in the 2020 election.

On Monday, the Pierce County Auditor’s Office reported triple the number of ballots returned compared to the same day during the 2016 presidential election. So far, more than 550,000 county residents are registered to vote — around 66,000 more than four years ago — and under a 2018 state law they can now register and vote all the way to Election Day.

Certainly local voters are eager to weigh in on the marquee national race and decide many state and local items. Unfortunately, they first have to run a gauntlet of four statewide advisory votes near the top of the ballot.

Ugh. Initiative and referendum powers are a good safety valve, but automatic advisory votes are often confusing and poorly worded — and always meaningless.

We offer the same advice that we do every election: Don’t sweat these misleading measures, because time spent reviewing them won’t produce a different outcome.

The sole purpose of the nonbinding questions is to “advise” legislators on tax-related legislation they’ve already passed. Even if all voters check “repealed,” the tax or fee referenced in the advisory votes will stay in place.

It’s why our Editorial Board recommends voting “maintain” on the following:

Advisory Vote 32: Maintain or repeal a bill requiring retailers to charge an 8-cent tax on carryout bags that can be recycled. (Senate Bill 5323)

Advisory Vote 33: Maintain or repeal a tax on heavy equipment rental. (SB 5628)

Advisory Vote 34: Maintain or repeal a business and occupation tax increase on businesses making more than $1 million a year. (SB 6492)

Advisory Vote 35: Maintain or repeal taxing commercial airplane manufacturers. The estimated revenue is $1.024 billion over a decade. (SB 6690)

What concerns Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson most about the advisory votes is how time-consuming they can be. She told us her office is anticipating longer lines for those voting in person at the Elections Office in Tacoma. During a pandemic, folks shouldn’t linger longer trying to decipher this pointless four-pack.

Thank initiative promoter and failed gubernatorial candidate Tim Eyman for the cluttered ballot. In 2007, Eyman sponsored Initiative 960, a measure requiring all state revenue increases to be put to voters, after the fact. Too bad last year’s Senate bill to get rid of these distractions never made it to committee.

Advisory votes don’t always give voters the full picture. Think Cliff Notes with confusing language. Most include a 10-year cost estimate, making the taxes seem excessive, and voters aren’t always told how the revenue will be spent.

And then there’s the implication of some nefarious purpose: ”The legislature eliminated/imposed, without a vote of the people...”

Say, what? Representative democracy means voters choose legislators to legislate, i.e., pass laws, make tax policy, fund schools and public safety.

We’ll always be the first to champion civic participation, but it’s already baked into the cake: If you don’t like legislators raising a tax or fee, cast a vote against them. Unlike an advisory measure, it might actually work.

ABOUT OUR ENDORSEMENTS

The News Tribune Editorial Board interviewed candidates and did other research before making our picks for the 2020 election. Endorsements are intended to promote civic discourse and encourage voters to dig deeper. Board members in this set of interviews include: Stephanie Pedersen, TNT president and publisher; Matt Misterek, editorial page editor; Karen Irwin, editorial writer; Matt Driscoll, local news columnist; Pamela Transue, community representative and former president of Tacoma Community College; and Jim Walton, community representative and former Tacoma city manager. Read more about the candidates in our online Voter Guide.

This story was originally published October 21, 2020 at 2:00 PM.